Gender determines the effect of atracurium priming technique in a randomized study

To evaluate the effect of priming atracurium over onset time and intubating time of general anesthesia between different genders.

Sixty-six male and sixty-four female patients, ASA I-II, aged 18-65 years, were randomly divided into four groups: group M1: male patients with saline priming; group M2: male patients with priming atracurium dose of 0.05 mg/kg; group F1: female patients with saline priming; group F2: female patients with priming atracurium dose of 0.05 mg/kg. General anesthesia was induced with midazolam(0.1 mg*kg(-1)) propofol(0.75 mg*kg(-1)), intubation dose of atracurium (0.5 mg*kg(-1)), fentanyl (3 μg*kg(-1)). The incidences of dizziness, diplopia, heavy eyelids and dyspnea were observed. Neuromuscular tension was quantified by using TOF-Guard neuromuscular monitor, and intubating time was defined as the duration from the infusion of intubation dose of atracurium to the time when T4/T1=0.

The intubating time of group F2 was shorter than that of group F1. There was no significant difference between group M1 and group M2. The incidences of dizziness, diplopia and heavy eyelids in group F2 were higher than those in group M2.

Atracurium priming technique could shorten the intubation time of female patients, but not for male patients, and the gender plays a key role in affecting the clinical outcome of atracurium priming.