QUANTITATION OF THE INTERACTION OF ROCURONIUM BROMIDE WITH ETOMIDATE,FENTANYL, MIDAZOLAM, PROPOFOL, THIOPENTONE, AND ISOFLURANE USING CLOSED-LOOP FEEDBACK-CONTROL OF INFUSION OF ROCURONIUM

Sixty patients were randomly assigned to one of six groups (n=10 in ea ch case) in which anaesthesia was induced and maintained with etomidat e, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol or with thiopentone and N2O, or isofl urane and N2O. After obtaining control measurements, rocuronium 0.6 mg kg-1 was given for intubation followed by an infusion, controlled by closed-loop feedback at 90% block. The steady-state rates of infusion were (in the same order) 0.64+/-0.22, 0.60+/-0.15, 0.61+/-0.21, 0.67+/ -0.31, 0.63+/-0.15 and 0.39+/-0.17 mg kg-1 h-1 (Mean+/-SD). The intrav enous agents did not interact with recuronium to any clinically signif icant degree. Isoflurane reduced the requirements by 35-40%.