Title: A Comparative Study of Rocuronium and Succinylcholine for Rapid Sequence Induction of Anaesthesia

Authors: Anisha Pauline P, C. S. Prakash, M. Dakshinamoorthy, C. Dhanasekaran, N. K. Sekaran

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i10.85

Abstract

Rocuronium bromide introduced in 1994 was a non depolarizing muscle relaxant which became the first competitor to succinylcholine by producing excellent to good intubating conditions at 60 seconds. It had an intermediate duration of action with minimal hemodynamic changes and no histamine release. Also, it was devoid of the adverse effects seen with succinylcholine. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of two different doses of Rocuronium bromide in comparison to Succinylcholine for use during rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia. Ninety patients posted for elective surgeries were divided into groups of 30 each randomly. Group S received Succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg and Group R8 received Rocuronium bromide 0.8 mg/kg. Laryngoscopy and intubation was done at 60 seconds after assessing the relaxation of jaw, vocal cords status and response to intubation using a standard intubation scoring system by a double blinded assessor. Results were tabulated and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Excellent intubating conditions were seen in 100% of Group S and 88% in Group R8 respectively. Rocuronium 0.8 mg/kg also had a shorter duration of action compared to the usual high dose (0.9-1.2 mg/kg) given in rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia. Hemodynamic changes returned to pre-induction baseline values by the end of 5 minutes in both groups Hence we concluded that Rocuronium bromide was a safer and a good alternative to Succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia in adult patients where Succinylcholine was contraindicated provided that there was no anticipated difficulty in intubation.

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Corresponding Author

Anisha Pauline P

Final year Post Graduate, Dept of Anaesthesiology

RMMCH, Chidambaram-608002, Tamil Nadu, India