ORG NC45 for short intra-abdominal operations: a comparison with succinylcholine.

ORG NC45 was compared with succinylcholine to produce muscle relaxation for short, intra-abdominal operations in 40 patients during nitrous oxide-oxygen-enflurane anaesthesia. Intubating conditions after ORG NC45, 100 micrograms/kg, were similar to those after succinylcholine 1 mg/kg, although this was achieved at a mean time of 229.9 +/- 10.8 sec compared with 129.8 +/- 14.2 sec after succinylcholine. Muscle relaxation during surgery, mean duration 32.5 minutes, was provided in the succinylcholine group with an infusion and in the ORG NC45 group by repeated boluses, 10 micrograms/kg, which were required in four patients. At the end of surgery ORG NC45 was antagonized with atropine, 17 micrograms/kg, and neostigmine, 36 micrograms/kg, which were repeated in two patients. Postoperative recovery of neuromuscular function was indistinguishable between the two groups. We conclude that ORG NC45 is a suitable relaxant for short, intra-abdominal operations if sufficient time, three to four minutes, is allowed to produce good intubating conditions.