Loading...
To determine the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents on facemask ventilation, researchers allocated 31 consecutive healthy patients with normal upper airway anatomy who were undergoing elective surgery to receive rocuronium (14 patients) or succinylcholine (17 patients); the groups were matched for age, sex, and body-mass index. A custom-made partitioned facemask was used to separately measure oral and nasal airflow at baseline (after propofol induction and cessation of spontaneous respirations) and for 60 seconds after succinylcholine administration or until complete paralysis was achieved after rocuronium administration.
No changes in tidal volume, oral airflow, or nasal airflow were noted after rocuronium administration. However, tid…