High-dose vecuronium may be an alternative to suxamethonium for rapid-sequence intubation.
Endotracheal intubation conditions 60 s after intravenous administration of either high-dose vecuronium (0.3 mg kg -1; n = 25) or suxamethonium (1.0 mg kg -1; n = 25) were compared in a blind, randomised study. No significant differences were found between the two drugs. In 96% of the patients intubation conditions were characterized as excellent or good. In only one patient (4%) in each group were intubation conditions unsatisfactory. According to our findings, high-dose vecuronium provides satisfactory intubation conditions after 60 s and may be used instead of suxamethonium for rapid sequence intubation when a long duration of neuromuscular blockade is acceptable.
Koller
M E
ME
Department of Anaesthesiology, Haukeland Sykehus, University of Bergen, Norway.
Husby
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013390:Succinylcholine; D013997:Time Factors; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D013390:Succinylcholine