Rocuronium for control of muscle spasms in a tetanus patient with chronic methamphetamine use disorder

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Apr 10:2018:bcr2018224391. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224391.

Abstract

This is a case of a 31-year-old Filipino man with chronic methamphetamine use disorder who developed tetanus from a necrotic skin graft over his left calcaneus, which was fractured after a motor vehicular accident. During the course of his illness, the patient's muscle spasms were unusually refractory to benzodiazepine, which is the first-line drug used in the management of muscle spasms. The muscle spasms were successfully controlled on the seventh day of illness with rocuronium at a dose of 10 μg/kg/min and midazolam at 0.30 mg/kg/hour. Both infusions were tapered off until the 23rd day of illness. The patient was discharged on the 30th day of illness, improved and stable.

Keywords: adult intensive care; infection (neurology); neurology (drugs and medicines).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / complications*
  • Androstanols / administration & dosage*
  • Anesthetics, Intravenous / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Methamphetamine*
  • Midazolam / administration & dosage
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Rocuronium
  • Skin Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Spasm / drug therapy*
  • Spasm / etiology
  • Tetanus / complications*
  • Tetanus / drug therapy

Substances

  • Androstanols
  • Anesthetics, Intravenous
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
  • Methamphetamine
  • Midazolam
  • Rocuronium