A 23-Year-Old Man Is Evaluated for Prolonged Paralysis Following General

question 147

Multiple Choice

A 23-year-old man is evaluated for prolonged paralysis following general anesthesia for an elective surgical procedure.  Anesthesia was induced with propofol, succinylcholine was used for intubation, and anesthesia was maintained via propofol and fentanyl infusions.  The patient has not had a return of neuromuscular function after several hours.  His mother then discloses that she has also been "slow to wake up" from anesthesia.  Which of the following is the most likely reason for this patient's prolonged paralysis?

• A)Decreased first-pass metabolism
• B)Decreased plasma hydrolysis
• C)Increased binding to plasma proteins
• D)Increased redistribution to fat
• E)Upregulation of target receptors

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