Surgical conditions with rocuronium versus suxamethonium in cesarean section: a randomized trial

Onset times and conditions for intubation after rocuronium versus suxamethonium at cesarean section have been evaluated, but no study thus far has examined the influence of these neuromuscular blocking drugs on the surgical conditions or their effect on the duration of surgery and the ease of fetal delivery. We aimed to compare the surgical conditions for delivery in parturients who received deep neuromuscular block with rocuronium with those who had induction with suxamethonium.

Ninety patients undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia were randomized to receive either rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg or suxamethonium 1 mg/kg for tracheal intubation and delivery. Times to delivery and the quality of surgical conditions, using a five-point Surgical Rating Scale for Delivery (SRSD) ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), were evaluated.

The median SRSD (range) was found to be significantly better in the rocuronium group [4 (3-5) points vs 3 (2-4) points with suxamethonium (P <0.001)]. Whereas the mean (SD) induction-to-intubation interval was longer with rocuronium [106 (34) s vs 68 (32) s with suxamethonium (95% CI of the difference 24 to 52 s, P <0.001)], the incision-to-delivery interval was shorter in the rocuronium group [147 (68) s vs 196 (51) s with suxamethonium (95% CI of the difference -75 to -24 s, P <0.001)]. The mean induction-to-delivery intervals were similar [268 (73) s vs 276 (63) s, respectively].

Whereas the induction-to-delivery intervals were comparable, we found rocuronium superior to suxamethonium in allowing better surgical conditions for fetal delivery, which enabled an easier delivery and a shorter incision-to-delivery interval.