High-dose vecuronium may be an alternative to suxamethonium for rapid-sequence intubation

Endotracheal intubation conditions 60 s after intravenous administration of either high-dose vecuronium (0.3 mg kg -1; n = 25) or suxamethonium (1.0 mg kg -1; n = 25) were compared in a blind, randomised study. No significant differences were found between the two drugs. In 96% of the patients intubation conditions were characterized as excellent or good. In only one patient (4%) in each group were intubation conditions unsatisfactory. According to our findings, high-dose vecuronium provides satisfactory intubation conditions after 60 s and may be used instead of suxamethonium for rapid sequence intubation when a long duration of neuromuscular blockade is acceptable.