Intubation Success Rates Are Similar with Rocuronium and Succinylcholine

To compare first-attempt intubation success rates with rocuronium to those with succinylcholine, researchers reviewed prospectively collected data for 327 patients who underwent rapid sequence intubation and received etomidate for induction and either succinylcholine or rocuronium for paralysis at a tertiary care emergency department in Arizona during 16 months.

Overall, 113 patients received succinylcholine (median dose, 1.65 mg/kg) and 214 received rocuronium (median dose, 1.19 mg/kg). All patients were successfully intubated. Direct laryngoscopy or a GlideScope was used in more than 90% of all intubations. First-attempt success rates were similar with succinylcholine and rocuronium (72.6% and 72.9%). Median number of attempts also was sim…