A comparative study between one and two effective doses (ED95) of rocuronium for tracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Neuromuscular blockers (NMB) are used to induce relaxation of skeletal muscles and facilitate tracheal intubation (TI). According to the literature, two effective doses (ED95) of NMB are ideal for TI. Rocuronium is a steroid-type, synthetic, non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker of medium duration. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the conditions of tracheal intubation with one and two effective doses (ED95) of rocuronium, following the criteria of the Copenhagen Consensus Conference. METHODS Sixty patients of both genders, ages 20 to 60 years, physical status ASA I and II, Mallampati 1 and 2, body mass index (BMI) < 35, who underwent general anesthesia, randomly divided in two groups of 30 patients, were evaluated. Group 1 (G1) received 0.3 mg kg(-1) of rocuronium (1 ED95, and Group 2 (G2) received 0.6 mg kg(-1) (2 DE95). Parameters used to evaluate TI were based on the criteria of the Copenhagen Consensus Conference (Good Clinical Research Practice): laryngoscopy, vocal cords (position and movements), reaction to the insertion of the tube and/or filling of the cuff (movements of limbs and cough). RESULTS All intubations were considered excellent or good (acceptable); therefore, there were no cases of failure or any intubation considered bad (unacceptable). The results of the statistical analysis were not significant. Consequently, we did not observe any clinically significant differences in the parameters evaluated CONCLUSIONS Both doses of rocuronium, 0.3 mg kg(-1) and 0.6 mg kg(-1) ED95, provided clinically satisfactory parameters of TI in elective procedures.