Abstract
Fifty healthy Nigerian surgical patients were given fazadinium bromide at a dose level of 10 mg . kg-1 while 30 other similar patients received 1.5 mg . kg-1. Anaesthesia was induced with either thiopentone or alfathesin. Tracheal intubation was satisfactorily accomplished after a mean of 55 seconds with the 1 mg . kg-1 dose and a mean of 32 seconds with the 1.5 mg . kg-1 dose. Duration of action of fazadinium 1 mg . kg-1 was a mean of 42 min (range 30 to 50 min) while the mean for 1.5 mg . kg-1 was 55 min (range 45 to 70 min). There was no significant difference between the thiopentone and alfathesin induction groups. Reversibility with neostigmine was excellent. Whereas the 1 mg . kg-1 dose was satisfactory for normal regular intubation, the 1.5 mg . kg-1 dose is recommended for "crash" intubation. The administration of fazadinium was associated with a stable blood pressure and moderate sinus tachycerdia. No other side effects were seen.