Succinylcholine Versus Rocuronium for Emergency Intubation in Intensive Care

Emergency intubation of patients in intensive care is a high-risk endeavour. For many decades, succinylcholine has been the neuromuscular blocking agent of choice. However, succinylcholine may have life-threatening side effects and is contraindicated in a variety of diseases relevant in intensive care. The nondepolarizing agent rocuronium has been propagated as alternative for succinylcholine. Though a recent meta-analysis found no difference in intubating conditions between succinylcholine and rocuronium in elective cases, there are no data in emergent cases in intensive care. The aim of the present study is to compare succinylcholine and rocuronium with regard to 1) quality of intubating conditions, 2) length of the intubating sequence, 3) failed intubating attempts, 4) hemodynamic sequelae of intubation, and 5) desaturations.