Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Several studies using rocuronium as an alternative to suxamethonium for endotracheal intubating conditions in rapid sequence induction are available in literature, all claiming obvious advantages, but intubating conditions after suxamethonium and rocuronium have not been assessed in our hospitals yet.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of rocuronium for rapid sequence induction by comparing the endotracheal intubating conditions with suxamethonium, following induction with sodium thiopentone as the sole induction agent in elective, otherwise healthy, adult patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 40 patients: group A patients received rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg IV, and group B patients received suxamethonium chloride 1.5 mg/kg IV. In both groups, jaw relaxation and vocal cord relaxation were considered for atraumatic laryngoscopy at 60 seconds . Induction of anesthesia achieved with thiopentone as a sleeping dose for all patients.
RESULTS:
All the patients in the suxamethonium group have excellent intubating conditions, while in the rocuronium group, 90% of the patients were excellent and 10% were good regarding the intubating conditions. CONCLUSION:
It is concluded from this study that intubation can be performed under good to excellent conditions at 60 seconds after a bolus dose of rocuronium of 0.6 mg/kg. The result of this study indicates that this nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent may be considered as a valuable alternative to suxamethonium for rapid sequence induction, i.e., within 60 seconds, even after induction with thiopentone as the sole anesthetic agent.