Publication:

Comparison of the effect of two different doses of rocuronium on intubating conditions

Background Tracheal intubation with use of muscle relaxant is one of the best methods of securing and maintaining airway. Rocuronium bromide is a newer non depolarizing muscle relaxant being used for tracheal intubation. The aim of our study was to investigate the intubating conditions with two different doses of rocuronium 0.6 and 0.9 mg/kg at 90 seconds and evaluate whether reducing the dose provide clinically acceptable intubating conditions.

Methods Prospective, randomized, single blind trial in which 84 patients admitted for surgery were included. The patients were allocated into 2 groups. Group I received the drug Rocuronium of dose 0.9mg /kg and group II received the drug rocuronium of dose 0.6 mg/kg. Intubating conditions were assessed at 90 seconds based on the scale adopted by cooper et al.

Results 84 patients completed the study protocol. The two groups were similar with respect to demographic characteristics. Rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg kg-1 body weight produced excellent intubating conditions in of 69% patients but produced good intubating conditions in 28.6% of patients. Rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg kg-1 body weight produced 88.1% excellent intubating conditions and good intubating conditions in 11.9% of patients. Duration of action of dose 0.6mg/kg is 37.9±6.1 minutes and that of 0.9mg/kg is 49.3±8.7 minutes.

Conclusions Rocuronium in dose 0.6 mg/kg give clinically acceptable intubating conditions at 90 seconds. Increasing the dose of rocuronium bromide increased the number of excellent intubating conditions but at the cost of increased duration of action.