Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background & Aim: Opioids, such as alfentanil, are used without neuromuscular blocking agents to facilitate endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing elective surgery. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possibility of endotracheal intubation with propofol and remifentanil and compare it to propofol and alfentanil, without neuromuscular blocking agents.

  Patients and Method: A hundred ASA I patients undergoing elective inpatient surgery were scheduled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. The patients were divided into two groups: alfentanil (control group) and remifentanil (study group). In the control group, 50 μg/kg alfentanil was IV injected over 10 seconds, and after 45 seconds or occurrence of apnea, 2 mg/kg propofol was IV injected over 5 seconds. Thirty seconds after the administration of propofol, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were attempted. In the study group, only 5 μg/kg remifentanil was administered instead of alfentanil. Intubating conditions were assessed on the basis of ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cords opening, jaw relaxation, and limb movement (1 - 4 score). Intubation scores were analyzed by nonparametric tests and compared between the two groups.

  Results: There were no demographic differences such as age,weight and sex between the groups. Although, laryngoscopy, jaw relaxation, and limb movement scores were similar in both groups and there were no significant differences, vocal cord opening was significantly wider in the study group than the control group(P = 0. 028).

  Conclusion: This study revealed that the use of propofol and remifentanil provided excellent conditions for tracheal intubation in most patients in the same way as propofol and alfentanil, and the score of vocal cord opening in the study group was better than alfentanil group. Therefore, to avoid administering muscle relaxants , remifentanil and propofol can be used for laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in healthy young patients.