BACKGROUND: Rapid and safe endotracheal intubation is of paramount importance in practice of general anesthesia. Succinylcholine chloride, a depolarizing muscle relaxant due to its quick onset of action and excellent intubating conditions has remained a muscle relaxant of choice. Rocuronium was proved to be safe alternative to Succinylcholine for endotracheal intubation. AIMS: Study was conducted to evaluate & compare the onset time, clinical duration and intubating condition of Succinylcholine and Rocuronium Bromide and Haemodynamic changes caused by these agents. METHODS & MATERIALS:80 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group-1, Succinylcholine (1. 5mg/kg) and group-2 Rocuronium Bromide (0.6mg/kg). After 60 sec of administration of muscle relaxant, intubating conditions were judged according to scoring system by Cooper et al. 1 Onset time and duration of action was noted. Hemodynamic parameters ( Heart rate, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Mean Atrial pressure and SPO2) were monitored before intubation, during intubation and just after intubation at 1, 2 and 5 minutes. RESULTS: The mean onset time and duration of action was significantly longer for Rocuronium (95.15±9.47 seconds) than Succinylcholine (59.80±14.30 seconds) and Rocuronium (42.60±13.15 minutes) than Succinylcholine (5.10±2.35 minutes). Intubating conditions was excellent in 35(87%) and good in 5(12.5%) patients in succinylcholine whereas, in Rocuronium produced excellent intubation in only 23(57.5%) patients and good intubation in 14(35%) patients. The heart rate increased significantly after induction (maximum at 1 minute) with both Rocuronium (98.75±15.53) and Succinylcholine (112.75±15.89). But it gradually declined towards normal and change in heart rate with either drug was not significant at 5 minutes. The mean blood pressure increased significantly after induction (maximum at 1 minute) with both Succinylcholine (100.52±8.11) and Rocuronium (100.61±7.83). But it gradually declined towards normal in 5 minutes after induction. CONCLUSION: Rocuronium bromide is a safe, haemodynamically stable and good alternative for Suxamethonium for endotracheal intubation and can be used for safe induction and intubation, if there is no prediction of difficult intubation.

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