Evaluation of intubating conditions with rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg using train of four stimulation in elective surgery

Train of four (TOF) stimulation has been recommended to be used with neuromuscular blocking agents. The incidence of excellent intubating conditions with rocuronium, when used with TOF, is lacking. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of patients having excellent intubating conditions with rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg using TOF at adductor pollicis longus at T1 and T0, time to achieve T1 or T0 and incidence of sore throat, immediate and 24 hours post-extubation.

This prospective non-randomised study was carried out in 250 patients of either sex, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II, undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation after rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg monitored by TOF. Patients were divided among T1 and T0 groups. Intubating conditions were assessed using the Copenhagen scale. Results were analysed using the Chi-square test and the Student's t-test. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Intubating conditions were excellent in 84% patients (87.9% in group T0 and 80.1% in group T1, P = 0.216). The mean onset time was 142.98 ± 27.04 seconds in group T0 and 122.38 ± 3 0.76 seconds in group T1 (p < 0.01). The incidence of immediate (p = 0.02) and late (p = 0.01) sore throat was higher in the T1 group.

The proportion of patients having excellent intubating conditions with rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was higher at T0 but not statistically significant. It takes 20 seconds longer to achieve T0 as compared to T1 with a lesser incidence of immediate and late sore throat.