[Storing succinylcholine in prehospital settings following the recommendations of the French National Agency for the safety of medicines].
Annales francaises d'anesthesie et de reanimation · 2014-06-01 · Observational study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The French National Pharmaceuticals Agency (ANSM) has recommanded in July 2012 not to break the cold chain before using succinylcholine (Celocurine®). RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: to understand the pre-clinical evolution of the conservation modes of this curare. RESEARCH TYPE: Descriptive study before (year 2011) and after (year 2012). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Online survey to French Samu/Smur. DATA COLLECTED: SMUR location, conservation method at clinical base, in the mobile unit (UMH) and at the patient. Principal decision criteria: evolution of the conservation modes before and after the recommendation (qualitatives variables compared with a Fisher test). RESULTS: Out of 101 SAMU/SMUR, 62 answered. Conservation modes of succinylcholine vials were significantly different (P<0.001). Proper conservation was observed in 26 % of the cases before and 43 % after. Mobile units (UMH) equipped with a fridge increased from one out of two to 77 %. The lack of conservation modes passive or active on UMH went from 31 % to 3.4 % with isotherms bags with ice when a fridge was not available. The destruction of capsules at current temperature in a 24-hour period increased: 22 % before, 47 % after (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: After recommendations from ANSM, conservation modes and destruction of succinylcholine in a prehospital environment were significantly impacted.