Neuromuscular blockade in the emergency department.

This article presents a comprehensive review of neuromuscular blocking agents and their uses in the emergency department. These medicines are divided into two categories: depolarizing relaxants (including succinylcholine and decamethonium) and nondepolarizing relaxants (including d-tubocurarine, pancuronium, atracurium, and vecuronium). Also reviewed are pharmaco-kinetics, toxicity, and principal applications of these important agents.