title: Onset of neuromuscular blockade and intubating conditions one minute after the administration of rocuronium in children.
abstract: In a blinded randomized study intubating conditions were compared at one min following intravenous induction with propofol and either suxamethonium 1.0 mg.kg-1, or rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1. Onset time to maximal twitch depression, % block at one minute and clinical duration (time to 25% recovery) were measured. Sixty children undergoing elective tonsillectomy were recruited. Onset time [42s (SD 11s)] and clinical duration [3.3 min (SD 1.0 min)] in the suxamethonium group was significantly (P < 0.001) less than in the rocuronium group [92s (41s)] and [24.2 min (6.6 min)] respectively. The median twitch height at one minute for suxamethonium was 0% (range 0-8%) and significantly greater (P < 0.001) at 5% (range 0-22%) for rocuronium. Despite this there was no difference in the intubating conditions at one minute with 25 excellent/5 good in the suxamethonium group and 27 excellent/3 good in the rocuronium group. We conclude that rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1 gives optimal intubating conditions at one minute in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stoddart
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mather
mesh_terms: D000732:Androstanols; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D015742:Propofol; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013390:Succinylcholine; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine; D000077123:Rocuronium; D015742:Propofol