AUTHOR=Putowski Mateusz , Drygalski Tomasz , Morajda Andrzej , Woroń Jarosław , Sanak Tomasz , Wordliczek Jerzy 

TITLE=Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Patient With COVID-19 as a Result of Severe Hyperkalemia After Administration of Succinylcholine Chloride for Reintubation. A Case Report

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.843282

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.843282

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Abstract  

Background: We present a case study of a man with COVID 19 who developed cardiac arrest as a result of hyperkalemia following administration of chlororsuccinylcholine during endotracheal intubation. 
Case Summary: A patient with a severe course of COVID-19, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, underwent reintubation on day 16. The applied scheme was rapid sequence induction and intubation with administration of chlororsuccinylcholine. Immediately after intubation, there was a sudden cardiac arrest due to hyperkalemia (cK + 10.2 meq / L). Treatment was initiated as per guidelines, which resulted in a return to spontaneous circulation after 6 minutes.
Conclusions: Chlorsucynylcholine may cause life-threatening hyperkalemia. We recommend using rocuronium as a neuromuscular blocking agent in critically ill COVID-19 patients due to its more optimal safety profile.