TRACHEAL INTUBATION WITHOUT NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCK IN CHILDREN

We have studied 80 healthy children, aged 2-14 yr, undergoing adenoton sillectomy in a double-blind randomized design. Tracheal intubation fa cilitated by either suxamethonium 1.5 mg kg-1 or alfentanil 15 mu g(-1 ) was compared after induction of anaesthesia with propofol 3-4 mg kg( -1). The quality of tracheal intubation was graded according to the ea se of laryngoscopy, position of the vocal cords, coughing, jaw relaxat ion and movement of limbs. There were no significant differences in th e overall assessment of intubating conditions between the two groups, and all children underwent successful tracheal incubation. Fewer patie nts coughed (P < 0.0141 and limb movement was less common (P < 0.007) after tracheal intubation facilitated by suxamethonium. Alfentanil att enuated the haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation.