Rapid tracheal intubation with propofol, alfentanil and a standard dose of vecuronium

We studied 60 ASA I patients with Mallampati grade 1 airways to compare emergency intubating conditions with either alfentanil 20 mu g kg(-1), propofol 2.5 mg kg(-1) and vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1), or with thiopentone 5 mg kg(-1) and suxamethonium 1 mg kg(-1). Ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cord status and cough response were graded. The trachea of all patients was intubated; 83% of patients in the alfentanil-propofol-vecuronium group and 86% in the thiopentone-suxamethonium group were considered to have satisfactory intubating conditions at 60 s. We conclude that the combination of alfentanil 20 mu g kg(-1), propofol 2.5 mg kg(-1) and vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1) provided adequate conditions for rapid tracheal intubation.