Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 7, 39-43, Copyright © 1960 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Intraocular Tension in Association with Succinylcholine and Endotracheal Intubation: A Preliminary Report

There appears to be no reason why succinylcholine cannot be used for intubation where deemed advantageous by the anaesthetist, for the rise in intraocular pressure has been dissipated long before the surgeon is ready to open the eye. Where a rise may be undesirable, slow depolarization is indicated. Indeed, where a rise in ocular tension is feared, it would seem that that associated with intubation in the absence of adequate topical anaesthesia or moderately deep general anaesthesia may be of far greater and prolonged extent than that produced by succinylcholine. It remains a fact, however, that a single large injection of succinylcholine should never be administered when the eye is open during intraocular surgery.