Asystole and bradycardia in adult patients after a single dose of suxamethonium.

Two cases of cardiac asystole and one case of severe bradycardia were seen following a single injection of suxamethonium in a series of 46 adult patients in whom anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and etomidate. It is suggested that the vagomimetic effects of fentanyl and, possibly also of etomidate, may contribute to the enhancement of the bradycardic effects of suxamethonium.