Effects of thiopental sodium, ketamine, and propofol on the onset time of rocuronium in children

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In emergency condition, failure in securing airway is a common and serious reason of pediatric death. Rapid intubation is required to minimize physiologic complication in children due to airway failure. Rapid loss of consciousness and rapid onset of neuromuscular blocking agent are necessary for the rapid sequence intubation. In this study, we compared the effects of thiopental sodium, ketamine, and propofol (drugs commonly used to induce anesthesia in children) on the onset time of rocuronium. We also compared the effects of these anesthesia induction drugs on intubation condition and their duration of action. METHODS: A total of 89 patients undergoing various elective surgeries were enrolled and allocated to the following three groups according to the anesthesia induction drug 1) Group T, thiopental sodium; 2) Group P, propofol; and 3) Group K, ketamine. After loss of consciousness, neuromuscular monitoring was performed and rocurunium 0.6 mg/kg was administered. Onset time and duration of action of rocuronium were measured. Intubation condition was recorded with a tracheal intubation scoring system. Hemodynamic changes were observed before induction until 5 min after endotracheal intubation. RESULTS: The onset time of rocuronium in group K (39.9 s) was significantly faster than that in group T (61.7 s) or group P (50.7 s). There was no significant difference in duration of action of rocuronium or intubation condition among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine can decrease the onset time of rocuronium significantly compared to thiopental sodium or propofol.