Prolonged neuromuscular blockade following trimetaphan infusion. A case report and in vitro study of cholinesterase inhibition.

This is a case report with postoperatively prolonged neuromuscular blockade of 17 hours duration suspected to be caused by trimetaphan. Inhibitory action of trimetaphan to true cholinesterase (human red cell cholinesterase) was estimated in vitro, and it is concluded that this action is too weak to cause neuromuscular disturbances by acetylcholine excess in clinical doses. Trimetaphan is considered to have a neuromuscular blocking action of a non-depolarising type.