Quantifying the interaction of rocuronium (Org 9426) with etomidate, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, thiopental, and isoflurane using closed-loop feedback control of rocuronium infusion.

The present study was designed to evaluate the interactions of rocuronium with etomidate, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, thiopental, and isoflurane using closed-loop feedback control of infusion of rocuronium. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to one of six sequences where anesthesia was maintained with etomidate, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, or thiopental and nitrous oxide, or with isoflurane and nitrous oxide. The possible interaction of rocuronium with the anesthetics was quantified by determining the asymptotic steady-state rate of infusion (Iss) of rocuronium necessary to produce a constant 90% neuromuscular block. This was accomplished by applying nonlinear curve fitting to data on the cumulative dose requirement during the initial 90-min period after bolus administration of rocuronium. Patient characteristics and controller performance, i.e., the ability of the controller to maintain the neuromuscular block constant at the set-point, did not differ significantly between the groups. Iss values calculated per lean body mass were 0.64 +/- 0.22, 0.60 +/- 0.15, 0.61 +/- 0.21, 0.67 +/- 0.31, 0.63 +/- 0.15, and 0.39 +/- 0.17 mg.kg-1.h-1 in the etomidate, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, thiopental, and isoflurane groups, respectively. The isoflurane group had a lower steady-state rate of infusion of rocuronium than the other five groups (P < 0.05). Compared to intravenous anesthetics, etomidate, fentanyl, midazolam, propofol, or thiopental, isoflurane reduced the infusion requirement of rocuronium by 35%-40%.