Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Varying Doses of Cisatracurium and Atracurium on Intubating Conditions in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Introduction: Cisatracurium and atracurium are non-depolarising muscle relaxants belonging to benzylisoquinolinium group. Intubating dose of cisatracurium is found to be safer than atracurium owing to the histamine release and resultant respiratory and cardiac side-effects associated with the latter. However, intubating conditions of twice the ED95 dose (2xED95) of cisatracurium are not as satisfactory as equipotent dose of atracurium because of its higher potency. Aim: To compare the time of onset, intubating conditions and mean duration of action of three and four times ED95 doses (3 and 4xED95) of cisatracurium with 2xED95 dose of atracurium so as to find out an ideal intubating dose of cisatracurium that is comparable with 2xED95 of atracurium. Materials and Methods: The present study was a prospective cohort study that included 102 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They were divided into three groups of 34 each to receive atracurium 0.5 mg/kg (group A), cisatracurium 0.15 mg/kg (group B) or cisatracurium 0.2 mg/kg (group C) for intubation. Onset and duration of neuromuscular block were assessed using Train Of Four (TOF) stimuli. Total time for intubation and mean intubation scores were also noted. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 18.0. Qualitative data were compared using Chi-square test and quantitative data compared using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Onset of neuromuscular blockade in groups A, B and C were 292.06±61.486, 204.71±39.407 and 120.88±37.284 seconds (p-value <0.001), respectively. Mean intubation score was highest in group C along with least intubating time (p-value <0.001). The mean duration of action in groups A, B and C were 40.44±5.275, 48.24±5.888 and 63.38±7.659 minutes, respectively (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The 3 and 4xED95 doses of cisatracurium are superior to 2xED95 dose of atracurium in providing faster onset of action, better intubating conditions, shorter intubation time and longer duration of action. The 4xED95 dose of cisatracurium may be considered for rapid intubation in two minutes.