Dosing study of remifentanil and propofol for tracheal intubation without the use of muscle relaxants

Sixty ASA I and II patients, premedicated with midazolam, were administered propofol 2 mg.kg(-1) and remifentanil 3 mu g.kg(-1) (group R3), remifentan il 4 mu g.kg(-1) (group R4) and remifentanil 5 mu g.kg(-1) (group R5). Lary ngoscopy and intubation were performed 1 min after the administration of th e study drugs and the intubating conditions were assessed. Good to excellen t conditions were observed in 12 patients in group R3 compared with 19 pati ents each in groups R4 and R5 (p=0.004). Significant reductions in mean art erial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) after administration of the study drug were observed in each group, p < 0.01. There was, however, no differen ce in mean MAP and HR between the three groups at all time points. We concl ude that remifentanil 4-5 mu g.kg(-1) may reliably provide good to excellen t conditions for tracheal intubation when administered after propofol 2 mg. kg(-1).