Comparison of Intubating Conditions of Two Doses of Rocuronium Bromide with Succinylcholine in Children-Protocol for a Randomised Control Trial

Introduction: As a depolarising Neuromuscular Blocking Drug (NMBD), succinylcholine is a muscle relaxation of choice during intubation due to its fast onset effect and ultrashort duration of action. But, it is associated with complications like bradycardia, asystole, hyperkalaemia, myalgia, an increase in intraocular pressure and masseter spasm in children. Rocuronium bromide is an intermediate-acting non depolarising muscle relaxant with faster onset of action. So, it can be used as an alternative for intubation to avoid unwanted side-effects of succinylcholine.

Aim: To compare two doses of rocuronium bromide with succinylcholine in terms of intubating conditions, duration of action, haemodynamic variations and complications associated with muscle relaxant.

Materials and Methods: A randomised double blinded clinical trial will be planned after taking prior permission from ethical committee. A total 90 children of age between 1-10 years with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA I) and ASA II would be equally divided into three groups. Group S would receive succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg while Group R9 and R12 would receive rocuronium bromide 0.9 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. Comparative evaluation of intubating conditions would be done around 60 seconds in all three groups. Also, the duration of action, haemodynamic parameters and complications would be observed.

Conclusion: At the end of study, one can compare the two doses of rocuronium bromide against succinylcholine which provides the same intubating conditions without haemodynamic variations and complications