A comparison of the onset and clinical duration of high doses of cisatracurium and rocuronium.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the onset and clinical duration of cisatracurium and rocuronium in equipotent doses in balanced opioid/isoflurane anesthesia.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
40 healthy patients scheduled for elective surgery.


METHODS
Patients underwent anesthesia induction with thiopental or propofol with a cisatracurium intubating dose of either 0.15 or 0.2 mg/kg or a rocuronium dose of either 0.9 or 1.2 mg/kg. These doses correspond to three and four times the ED95 dose.


RESULTS
The onset time and time to 25% recovery of baseline first twitch in a train-of-four were determined using an accelerometric sensor. Rocuronium had a faster onset time that cisatracurium at equipotent doses (3 x ED95: 134 vs. 220 sec respectively, and at 4 x ED95: 95 vs. 162 sec). Recovery tended to be faster, but not statistically different for cisatracurium compared to rocuronium.


CONCLUSIONS
With equipotent intubating doses of rocuronium and cisatracurium, rocuronium produces a more rapid onset of muscle relaxation. The data suggest a tendency toward more rapid clinical recovery of cisatracurium compared to equipotent doses of rocuronium, although these differences were not statistically significant.
Lighthall
G K
GK
Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
Jamieson
M A
MA
Katolik
J
J
Brock-Utne
J G
JG
D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001279:Atracurium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077123:Rocuronium
D000732:Androstanols; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D001279:Atracurium; C101584:cisatracurium; D000077123:Rocuronium