title: Atracurium for intubation in man. A clinical and electromyographic study.
abstract: Atracurium is a new competitive neuromuscular blocking agent. We prospectively studied intubating conditions 2.5 minutes after atracurium doses of 0.4 or 0.5 mg/kg. For comparison, we evaluated conditions 1 minute after suxamethonium 1.0 mg/kg, there being 10 patients in each group. The same anaesthetist evaluated conditions during laryngoscopy and intubation in all patients. Intubating conditions were excellent in 33% of patients receiving atracurium 0.4 mg/kg and 60% of those receiving atracurium 0.5 mg/kg after 2.5 minutes; conditions were excellent in 80% of patients 1 minute after suxamethonium. The incidence of successful intubation on the first attempt was 67%, 90%, and 100%, respectively, in the three groups. Atracurium may be a suitable alternative to suxamethonium when speed of intubation is not critical.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001279:Atracurium; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013390:Succinylcholine; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D001279:Atracurium; D013390:Succinylcholine