Shortage of injectable succinylcholine chloride

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable succinylcholine chloride. The "Implications for Patient Care" make clear that serious errors may arise when substituting blocking agents due to this shortage. Anesthesiologists typically use this drug to relax the skeletal muscles to facilitate intubation, mechanical ventilation, and the surgical procedure itself. The drug may be administered once for short surgical procedures or multiple times for longer operations. The fact that the body breaks the drug down so quickly is a matter of safety for the patient and convenience for the surgical team. A longer-acting blocking agent will preferably be used for longer operations during the shortage, but then unfamiliarity with less commonly used drugs and their antidotes can lead to problems.