title: Choice of the hypnotic and the opioid for rapid-sequence induction.
abstract: The choice of hypnotics and opioids for rapid-sequence induction, and the use of premedication, is influenced by the choice of the muscle relaxant. Anaesthetic agents have a major influence on the quality of intubation when rapid-sequence induction is achieved without a muscle relaxant. Premedication is important, along with a high dose of propofol (2.5 mg kg-1 or more) and a short-acting opioid such as alfentanil (30-40 micrograms kg-1) or remifentanil (up to 4 micrograms kg-1). It has also been demonstrated that i.v. lidocaine can improve intubating conditions. When a muscle relaxant is used, the choice of the anaesthetic agents depends on the onset of action of the relaxant. With a rapid-acting compound such as rocuronium at a dose of 0.6 mg kg-1, the hypnotic agents need to be supplemented with only a small dose of opioids, e.g. alfentanil 10-20 micrograms kg-1. When succinylcholine, rocuronium 1.0 mg kg-1 or rapacuronium 1.5 mg kg-1 are used, excellent intubating conditions may be obtained by relatively smaller doses of hypnotic agents even without opioids; however, haemodynamic and intraocular pressure changes are better controlled when small doses of opioids are administered.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, CHU de Poitiers, 350 Avenue Jacques Coeur, 86021, Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavazais
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debaene
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D008012:Lidocaine; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000732:Androstanols; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D008012:Lidocaine; C082938:rapacuronium; D013390:Succinylcholine; D000077123:Rocuronium; D015742:Propofol