Document Detail


A comparison of succinylcholine and rocuronium for rapid-sequence intubation of emergency department patients.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11099426     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To compare rocuronium and succinylcholine for rapid-sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: A one-year prospective cohort comparison study was performed using a data collection form completed at the time of intubation. Data collected included the reason for the neuromuscular-blocking agent (NMBA) chosen, the time to onset of paralysis, and any complications encountered. Three ten-point numerical descriptor scales recorded the degree of body movement, vocal cord movement, and the physician's overall satisfaction with the extent of paralysis. RESULTS: Succinylcholine was used in 382 patients and rocuronium was used in 138 (26% of all RSI) patients. The mean (+/- SD) times of onset of succinylcholine and rocuronium were 39 +/- 13 sec and 44 +/- 20 sec, respectively (p = 0.04). No patient desaturated and required assisted ventilations while waiting for paralysis to occur. Types of body movements were similar with the two agents, but less frequent with succinylcholine (median = 10, mean = 9.5 +/- 1.1) than rocuronium (median = 10, mean = 9.1 +/- 1. 5) (p = 0.01). Vocal cord movements were similar for succinylcholine (median = 10, mean = 9.2 +/- 1.6) and rocuronium (median = 9, mean = 9.0 +/- 1.6) (p = 0.15). The physician's overall satisfaction with the extent of paralysis was also higher for succinylcholine (median = 10, mean = 9.4 +/- 1.3) than rocuronium (median = 10, mean = 8.8 +/- 2.0) (p < 0.01). Only one complication, widening of the QRS complex secondary to succinylcholine use in a patient with unsuspected hyperkalemia, could be attributed to the choice of NMBA. CONCLUSIONS: Both succinylcholine and rocuronium produced fast and reliable paralysis for RSI. Although succinylcholine had a faster onset and provided more relaxation, the difference had no clinical significance. Approximately a fourth of ED RSI patients qualified for use of rocuronium using these high-risk criteria.
Authors:
E G Laurin; J C Sakles; E A Panacek; A A Rantapaa; J Redd
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine     Volume:  7     ISSN:  1069-6563     ISO Abbreviation:  Acad Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2000 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-01-25     Completed Date:  2001-01-26     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9418450     Medline TA:  Acad Emerg Med     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1362-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA. eglaurin@ucdavis.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Androstanols / therapeutic use*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Intubation, Intratracheal*
Male
Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / therapeutic use*
Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / therapeutic use*
Prospective Studies
Statistics, Nonparametric
Succinylcholine / therapeutic use*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Androstanols; 0/Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; 0/Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; 143558-00-3/rocuronium; 306-40-1/Succinylcholine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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