Background: Cisatracurium is 3 to 4 times more potent than Atracurium and is devoid of histamine release. However 2ED 95 dose of Cistracurium does not provide satisfactory intubation conditions as compared to 2ED 95 dose of Atracurium. Aims: To compare the neuromuscular blocking characteristics of 3ED95 dose of
Cisatracurium and 2ED 95 dose of Atracurium. Material and Methods: 60 patients were divided into two groups: Group A received 0.5 mg/kg iv of Atracurium (2ED95) and Group B received 0.15 mg/kg iv of Cisatracurium (3ED95) as intubating dose. Onset time, duration of action, condition of intubation, haemodynamic effects and signs of histamine release were monitored. Results: 3ED95 dose of Cisatracurium had a faster onset time (2.96 ± 0.61 minutes ) as compared to 2ED95 dose of Atracurium (3.55 ± 0.51 minutes ; p-value 0.0134). Group B also had longer duration of action than Group A (67.16 ± 9.39 minutes vs 44.87 ± 4.94 minutes respectively; Pvalue
0.0013). Excellent intubating conditions were seen in 53.33% of patients in Group B and 46.67% of patients in Group A. 4 patients had signs of histamine release in Atracurium group and none in Cisatracurium Group. Conclusion: 3ED 9 5 dose of Cisatracurium is a more effective neuromuscular blocking agent than 2ED95 dose of Atracurium in terms of providing faster onset time, longer duration of action, excellent intubating condition and better hemodynamic stability with no histamine release.