Low doses of rocuronium during remifentanil-propofol-based anesthesia in children: comparison of intubating conditions.
BACKGROUND
In this prospective double-blind study, intubation conditions were compared at 90 s following two different low doses of rocuronium during remifentanil and propofol anesthesia in children undergoing ambulatory procedures.


METHODS
Forty-four children (ASA I-II, aged 3-12 years) undergoing day case ENT surgery were premedicated with midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1). Following atropine 10 microg x kg(-1), remifentanil infusion 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) was started. After 60 s, anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5 mg x kg(-1). Immediately after a bolus dose of propofol, the children received rocuronium doses of 0.15 mg x kg(-1) (group I, n = 22) or 0.3 mg x kg(-1) (group II, n = 22) in a randomized manner, after which an infusion of propofol 6 mg x kg(-1) h(-1) was added to the infusion of remifentanil 0.5 microg x kg(-1) min(-1) for maintenance of anesthesia. Intubating conditions were evaluated 90 s after rocuronium administration applying the Copenhagen Scoring System which included components of laryngoscopy, vocal cord movement and reaction to intubation. Hemodynamic values were recorded at predetermined time intervals.


RESULTS
Excellent, good and poor intubation conditions were 18.2, 40.9 and 40.9% in group I and 40.9, 54.5 and 4.5% in group II. Clinically acceptable intubating conditions (excellent and good) were significantly higher in group II (95.5%) than in group I (59.1%) (P = 0.004). Mean values of heart rate and blood pressure did not differ significantly between groups. No children required any intervention for hemodynamic instability and/or muscle rigidity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that 0.3 mg x kg(-1) of rocuronium may be a better low dose than 0.15 mg x kg(-1) of rocuronium for clinically acceptable intubating conditions in pediatric ambulatory surgery during remifentanil-propofol-based anesthesia at the doses used in the study.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. sermin.oztekin@deu.edu.tr
Sermin
S
Oztekin
Hasan
H
Hepaguşlar
Hakan
H
Kilercik
Aysun Afife
AA
Kar
Figen
F
Boyaci
Zahide
Z
Elar
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D000732:Androstanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077208:Remifentanil; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013997:Time Factors
D000732:Androstanols; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D000077123:Rocuronium; D015742:Propofol