[Rocuronium vs atracurium vs suxamethonium for double-lumen endobronchial tube intubation].

BACKGROUND

Intubation with a double lumen tube requires excellent and stable relaxation, necessary for accurate positioning of the device using a fibre optic scope.

METHODS

We have compared conditions for endobronchial intubation after administration of 1 mg kg(-1) rocuronium (group E), 0.1 mg kg(-1) cis-atracurium (group N) and 1.5 mg kg(-1) suxamethonium (group P) in 70 randomly allocated adult patients, scheduled for elective lung surgery. Conditions for intubation were assessed using Mallampati, Cromack-Lehan and Krieg scores.

RESULTS

The duration and conditions for intubation, and the onset of relaxation were comparable in all groups. Patients paralysed with suxamethonium required more frequent repositioning of double lumen tubes, compared to those paralysed with rocuronium and cis-atracurium.

DISCUSSION

Although all drugs given in equipotent doses proved to be suitable for the planned procedure, we conclude that suxamethonium could easily be abandoned in routine anaesthesia for elective lung surgery.