ABSTRACT
Background: Endotracheal intubation is of paramount importance in general anaesthesia requires relaxation of laryngeal musculature leading to total inactivity of vocal cords. Suxamethonium chloride, a depolarizing muscle relaxant due to its quick onset of action and excellent intubating conditions has remained a muscle relaxant of choice. Rocuronium was proved to be safe alternative to suxamethonium for endotracheal intubation. Aims & Objective: To find out the utility of Inj. Rocuronium Bromide a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant (NDMR) as an alternative to Suxamethonium chloride, a depolarizing muscle relaxant (DMR) for the purpose of intubation of trachea with emphasis on onset of time for muscle relaxation, duration of action, hemodynamic changes and complications if any. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized clinical study carried out at tertiary care center. 90 patients were randomly divided into three groups. Group S60 (n=30) - Inj. Suxamethonium 1.5 mg/kg IV given I.V, Group R60 (n=30) - Inj. Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg IV given I.V and Group R90 (n=30) - Inj. Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg IV given I.V. The intubating conditions were judged clinically at fixed time interval i.e. either at 60 seconds or 90 seconds as per the group of patient, after the injection of study drug with the help of four point scale. The observed results were compiled and analyzed statistically by using chi-square test for qualitative data and students “t” test for quantitative data, the analysing system being that of EPI INFO. Results: The mean age was 29.2 ± 12.60, 28.83 ± 8.50 & 30.1 ± 10.47 years, respectively in S60, R60 and R90 group. Intubating conditions were excellent (score 8-9) in all the 30 patients (100%) in Group S60, in 23 patients (76.66%) of Group R60 and in 28 patients (93.33%) of Group R90. The mean onset time in our study were 46.66±5.46 seconds in Group S60, 76.33 ± 10.33 seconds in Group R60 and 78.33 ± 9.4 in R90. The duration of action in our study was 5.93 ± 1.25 minutes in Group S60 compared to 29.83±5.49minutes in Group R60 and 27.83 ± 3.13 minutes in R90. Conclusion: Rocuronium can serve as a good alternative to Suxamethonium for tracheal intubation in conditions where Suxamethonium is contraindicated or where its use is hazardous.