title: The influence of alfentanil on the intubating conditions after priming with vecuronium.
abstract: The ability of alfentanil 15 micrograms kg-1 or 30 micrograms kg-1 to improve intubating conditions was studied in four groups of 25 ASA class 1 patients. Induction of anaesthesia was with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1. Neuromuscular blockade was induced with vecuronium using the priming principle. The priming dose, priming interval and intubating dose were 0.01 mg kg-1, 4 min, and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively. Intubation was attempted 1 min after the intubating dose. Intubating conditions were judged unacceptable in about 30% of the patients belonging to the control groups. Alfentanil 15 micrograms kg-1, when administered 65 s before intubation, reduced the incidence of coughing and diaphragmatic movement (P less than 0.05) but did not reduce the incidence of overall unacceptable intubating conditions. Alfentanil 30 micrograms kg-1, however, reduced the incidence of vocal cord movement (P less than 0.005) as well as coughing and diaphragmatic movement (P less than 0.002). Alfentanil 30 micrograms kg-1 reduced the incidence of unacceptable intubating conditions from about 30% to 4% (P less than 0.02).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015760:Alfentanil; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D015760:Alfentanil; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D005283:Fentanyl