are muscle relaxants necessary?
GROUND: The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) is designed to facilitate blind tracheal intubation. The effect of a muscle relaxant on the ability to perform tracheal intubation through the ILMA device has not been previously evaluated. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate rocuronium, 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg administered intravenously, on the success rate and incidence of complications associated with ILMA-assisted tracheal intubation. METHODS: A total of 75 healthy patients were induced with propofol 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 1 microg/kg intravenously. After insertion of the ILMA device, patients were administered either saline, rocuronium 0.2 mg/kg, or rocuronium 0.4 mg/kg in a total volume of 5 ml. At 90 s after administration of the study drug, tracheal intubation was attempted using a disposable polyvinyl tube. If unsuccessful, a reusable silicone tube was tried. In addition to recording the time and number of attempts required to secure the ai
