T. Fuchsbuder et E. Tassonyi, INTUBATING CONDITIONS AND TIME-COURSE OF ROCURONIUM-INDUCED NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK IN CHILDREN, British Journal of Anaesthesia, 77(3), 1996, pp. 335-338
We have investigated the potential of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg(-1) (2 x ED
(95)) and 0.9 mg kg(-1) (3 x ED(95)) for rapid sequence induction in 1
00 children, aged 3-7 yr. Intubating conditions with the two different
doses of rocuronium were assessed in 70 children (n = 35 in each grou
p) undergoing elective surgery. Intubation was carried out by mimickin
g rapid sequence induction, and intubation conditions were evaluated a
ccording to a standard score. Intubating conditions were good to excel
lent in all 70 patients investigated (2 x ED(95): excellent 29, good 6
; 3 x ED(95): excellent 33, good 2). In another 30 children (n = 15 in
each group), we examined the times of rocuronium-induced neuromuscula
r block using electromyography. Lag time and recovery index did not di
ffer significantly between the two groups (lag time: 37 (SD 12) vs 33
(14) s; recovery index: 9 (3) vs 10 (4) min). Three times the ED(95) i
nduced deeper neuromuscular block, 1 min after injection compared with
2 x ED(95) (twitch height: 42 (24) vs 25 (19)%, respectively; P < 0.0
5). The same was true for onset time (193 (47) vs 118 (23) s; P < 0.01
), clinical duration (21 (4) vs 34 (11) min; P < 0.01) and duration to
75% recovery (30 (6) vs 44 (4) min; P < 0.01). By mimicking rapid seq
uence induction, both doses of rocuronium offered clinically acceptabl
e (good or excellent) intubating conditions.