British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2002, Vol. 88, No. 2 163-165
© 2002 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
Editorial |
Editorial II
Rapacuronium: why did it fail as a replacement for succinylcholine?
The demise of succinylcholine has been predicted after the introduction of each new short-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA). The availability of a rapid- and short-acting non-depolarizing NMBA would clearly enhance the ability of anaesthetists to perform day-surgery procedures on outpatients requiring tracheal intubation, and might facilitate the early recovery process (e.g. fast-tracking) after ambulatory surgery.
After its introduction in the USA, rapacuronium (Raplon; Organon Akzo Nobel, Orange, NJ, USA) was subjected to intense scrutiny because of the current cost-conscious health-care environment and the increasing concern regarding patient safety with all new drugs.1 2 The challenge facing all anaesthesiologists is to continue to deliver the same high-quality patient care while consuming fewer resources (so-called value-based anaesthesia care). Even though the costs of drugs used for anaesthesia constitute less than 6% of the total cost of perioperative care,3 they are highly
Clinical experience with rapacuronium
Conclusions
References