Background and objectives: Rocuronium has the fastest onset as compared to all other available nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers, allowing tracheal intubation time similar to succinylcholine's. In addition to vocal cords relaxation, it is also important that there is no tube reactions (bucking) or coughing after its placement, in order to achieve fast and safe tracheal intubation. This study aimed at comparing intubation conditions after 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium at 60 seconds in children, adults and elderly patients.
Methods: Following premedication with midazolam, routine monitoring and induction with fentanyl and propofol, intubation conditions at 60s were evaluated according to clinical criteria in 60 ASA I-III patients aged 1 to 88 years who received 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium in 5 seconds. Patients were divided in three groups according to age: Group 1 (G1) children up to 12 years of age; Group 2 (G2), adults aged 18 to 65 years; Group 3 (G3) patients above 65 years of age. The following parameters were evaluated: tracheal intubation conditions by clinical criteria, blood pressure and pulse measured before induction (control), after induction, after rocuronium injection, 3 and 5 minutes after tracheal intubation.
Results: All patients were successfully intubated in 60s, but clinically acceptable conditions in 100% of cases were only achieved in adults and elderly patients. Three children were classified as having unacceptable conditions due to sustained cough for more than 10 seconds. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or pulse during the study.
Conclusions: In the conditions of our study, 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium was sufficient for tracheal intubation in 60 seconds in adult and elderly patients. It was, however, insufficient for clinically acceptable tracheal intubation conditions in 60 seconds in 100% of children.