Eighty years since the clinical use of d‑tubocurarine and 70 years since the clinical use of succinylcholine. History of muscle relaxants

Czech version

Authors: J. Málek ^1,2; P. Tůma ³
Authors‘ workplace: KAR 3. LF UK a FNKV Praha ¹; Komise pro historii ČSARIM JEP, Praha ²; Ústav hygieny 3. LF UK, Praha ³
Published in: Anest. intenziv. Med., 33, 2022, č. 3-4, s. 170-176
Category: History
doi: https://doi.org/10.36290/aim.2022.027

Overview

The article gives an overview of the use of curare from a poison of hunting arrows to its use in medicine as a muscle relaxant and a review of other substances that followed. People who have made a significant contribution to this history are listed. The development of muscle relaxant antidotes, the discovery of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and the use and abuse of muscle relaxants outside of operating rooms are described.

Keywords:

muscle relaxants – history – neostigmine – acetylcholine receptor – suxamethonium – curare – misuse

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