Comparison of alfentanil with suxamethonium in facilitating nasotracheal intubation in day-case anaesthesia.

We have performed a prospective study in 100 adults (ASA I or II) undergoing day-case dental extraction to compare the conditions for intubation and the postoperative sequelae of suxamethonium and alfentanil as adjuncts to propofol. The patients were allocated randomly to two groups comparable in age, sex and weight. Successful intubation was achieved in 100% of the suxamethonium group and 90% of the alfentanil group. Of the patients who received suxamethonium, 74% developed myalgia on the day after surgery, compared with 20% in the alfentanil group (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients who developed sore throat was also less in the alfentanil group than in the suxamethonium group (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients who complained of nausea in the two groups was not significantly different. We conclude that alfentanil, as an adjunct to propofol to facilitate tracheal intubation, is more acceptable to patients than suxamethonium in anaesthesia for day-case surgery.