Intubation conditions after atracurium and suxamethonium.
Conditions for endotracheal intubation provided by different dose regimens of atracurium 0.4 mg kg-1 and 0.5 mg kg-1 were studied and compared with each other and with suxamethonium 1.0 mg kg-1. Intubation was attempted at 2.5, 2 min and 1.5 min following a bolus dose of atracurium, and 1 min following suxamethonium. Ease of intubation was rated excellent in 90-100% of all patients studied. Atracurium, when administered 5 min following recovery from a suxamethonium-induced block, had a significantly faster onset of neuromuscular blockade (P less than 0.01) than the onset observed following atracurium alone. Administration of atracurium 0.42 mg kg-1 3 min after an initial dose of 0.08 mg kg-1 of the drug produced a significantly more rapid onset of block when compared with a bolus dose of 0.5 mg kg-1 (P less than 0.02).
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001279:Atracurium; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007546:Isoquinolines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D001279:Atracurium; D013390:Succinylcholine