Iran Journal of Nursing

  This is an associational research which was conducted to evaluate the correlation between plasma level of pseudocholinesterase and duration of succinylcholine induced apnea in patients undergoing general anesthesia in one of the hospitals of Iran medical Sciences University in 1993.

  The study included 150 patients who were admitted for elective surgery with general anesthesia and thracheal intubation. Samples were 93 male and 57 female patients who were randomly selected during 6 months.

  Data gathering instruments were a check list sheet which included three separate parts about demographic charactristics of samples, data about anesthesia plan and laboratory values, which were completed by interview, observation and review on patients medical records.

  A venous blood sample was drown before induction of anesthesia, induction was conducted by 5 mg/kg of nesdonal before Laryngoscopy and thracheal intubation, 1.5 mg/kg of Sch injected and immediately the duration of apnea till the first return of respiratory muscles movements was measured.

  Specific goals in this study include

  Determination of individual characteristics of patients.

  Determination of mean plasma level of Pch (U/L.) related to age and sex of patients.

  Determination of mean duration of apnea (min) related to age and sex of patients.

  Determination of "dibucain Number "related to age and sex of patients.

  Determination of the correlation between plasma level of Pch and duration of succinylcholine apnea in patients.

  Determination of the correlation between plasma level of Pch and "Dibucain Number" in patients.

  Determination of the correlation between plasma level of Pch and total plasma level of protein in patients.

  .Results of the study are presented by 18 tables and 24 graphs. Statistical test used to calculate the results were variation analysis, "T' test, piersons' s correlation coefficient and regressing line.

  The first survey hypothesis is upheld by results and indicate there is an indirect linear correlatiol between plasma level of Pch and duration of apnea in subjects (r=0.53 in females, r= -0.71 in males p<0.05).

  The second hypothesis is upheld by results and show a direct linear correlation between plasm.

  level of Pch and "Dibucain Number" in subjects (r= 0.53 in females, r= 0.73 in males P<0.05).

  The third hypothesis, also is upheld by results and reveal a direct linear correlation between plasma level of Pch and total plasma level of protein in subjects (r= 0.7 in females, r=0.74 in male p<0.05)

  The first part of forth survey hypothesis is not protected by results and statistical test show rumeaning full relation between plasma level of Pch and age groups in this study.

  The second part of this hypothesis is protected by results and indicate that the mean level of Pch in males is grather than in females (t=2.27 P<0.05) .