DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON OF 2 DOSES OF ROCURONIUM AND SUCCINYLCHOLINE FOR RAPID-SEQUENCE INTUBATION

Study Objective: To compare the pharmacodynamics of two commonly recom mended doses of rocuronium bromide (0.7 mg/kg and 0.9 mg/kg) and succi nylcholine (1.5 mg/kg) when used for rapid-sequence intubation. Design : Prospective, double-blind randomized study. Setting: Operating rooms at a university hospital. Patients: 45 ASA physical status I and II a dult patients scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesi a. Interventions: Nonpremedicated patients were anesthetized with fent anyl 2 mcg/kg followed ET thiopental sodium 4 to 5 mg/kg and muscle re laxant using rapid-sequence technique. Group 1 (n = 15) received rocur onium bromide 0.7 mg/kg; Group 2 (n = 16) received rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg; and Group 3 (n = 14) received succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg: In tubation was performed 60 seconds after the administration of muscle r elaxant. Measurements and Main Results: The ease of intubation was sco red using a scale ofl to 4. Blood pressure and heart rate were measure d beginning one minute before induction of anesthesia up to 5 minutes after intubation. Intubation scores were similar in groups 2 and 3 and were noted as good or excellent in all patients. Group 1 displayed a significantly lower intubation score than the other two groups; 60% we re rated as poor. No significant differences in hemodynamic data were seen among the three groups. Conclusions: Rocuronium bromide at a dose of 0.9 mg/kg provides intubating conditions similar to succinylcholin e 1.5 mg/kg at 1 minute. Intubating conditions at 1 minute following a 0.7 mg/kg dose of rocuronium are not as good as those following a 0.9 mg/kg dose of rocuronium or a 1.5 mg/kg dose of succinylcholine. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.