Comparison of intubating conditions following propofol and succinylcholine with propofol and remifentanil 2 μg kg −1 or 4 μg kg −1

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Abstract
We evaluated the intubating conditions, haemodynamic responses and duration of apnoea in 60 healthy adult patients after propofol 2 mg kg–1 combined with either a bolus of remifentanil 2 µg kg–1 or 4 µg kg–1, or succinylcholine 1 mg kg–1. Patients intubated following remifentanil showed dose‐dependent intubating conditions, similar at 4 µg kg–1 to the conditions produced with succinylcholine. Post‐induction mean arterial pressure decreased from baseline values by 21% (P<0.0001), 28% (P<0.0001) and 8% (P>0.05) in the remifentanil 2 µg kg–1, remifentanil 4 µg kg–1 and succinylcholine 1 mg kg–1 groups, respectively. The mean (sd) duration of apnoea following induction was 9.3 (2.6) min and 12.8 (2.9) min in the remifentanil 2 µg kg–1 and 4 µg kg–1 groups, and 6.0 (0.9) min in the succinylcholine group (P<0.001 between groups). Br J Anaesth 2000; 85: 623--5