A comparative study of intubating conditions of rocuronium bromide and suxamethonium in adult patients

AIM: Intubating conditions after Suxamethonium, a time tested popular short acting depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, and Rocuronium, a recently introduced intermediate acting non depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, with Thiopentone as the sole induction agent, were compared in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 30 patients: group a patient's received Rocuronium bromide, 0.6 mg/kg and group B patients received Suxamethonium chloride 1.5 mg/kg. In both the groups, jaw relaxation and vocal cord relaxation were considered for atraumatic laryngoscopy at 60 seconds or, if needed, at 75 seconds and then at 90 seconds. RESULTS: Intubation conditions were rated as excellent in 90% and good in 10% of the patients who received Rocuronium, and excellent in 100% of the patients who received Suxamethonium. CONCLUSION: It is concluded from this study that intubation can be performed under good to excellent conditions at 60–90 seconds after a bolus dose of Rocuronium of 0.6 mg/kg. The result of this study indicates that this new nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent may be considered as a valuable alternative to Suxamethonium for rapid tracheal intubation, i.e., within 60 seconds, even after induction with Thiopentone as the sole anesthetic agent.