In the present study, patients were traumatized with muscle-crushing injuries, or they were non-traumatized. The plasma concentration of potassium and sodium were measured before the induction of anesthesia and at selected intervals after the administration of succinylcoholine (SCC) in some patients were inhaled the B_2-agonist, salbutamol (about 800 ㎍) via an endotracheal tube and in the others were not given it. There was no significant difference in the base lines of potassium and sodium between the traumatized and nontraumatized patients. Salbutamol diminished the rise of potassium (-0.30 to 0.09 mEq/L) but did not affect the plasma sodium leve. There was no significant side-effect of this agent, but sinus tachycardia was the only thing noted. These results are consistent with the proposed mechanism that the decrease in serum potasium due to salbutamol is most likely a shift of potassium ions from the extracellular space to the intracellular space. Inhalation of salbutamol may be a useful method for the prevention of SCC-induced hyperkalemia without any serious side-effect in patients with preexisting hyperkalemia properties who have gone through trauma.