We have investigated the possibility of using the pre-operative measurement of cholinesterase activity to predict the postoperative development of myalgia following the administration of suxamethonium. Seventy-seven patients presenting for elective extraction of wisdom teeth were entered in the study. All patients received a standard anaesthetic regimen, including suxamethonium to facilitate tracheal intubation, and standardised postoperative analgesia. Myalgia was assessed postoperatively and no correlation between muscle pains and cholinesterase activity was found.
Ansermino JM, Burke MA, Upton PM, McVittie J, Blogg CE (1993) Suxamethonium-induced muscle pains are not related to cholinesterase activity Anaesthesia48: 1097-100