Rocuronium Bromide Intravenous Solution Maruishi® is more suitable than ESLAX Intravenous® during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia

Purpose Rocuronium Bromide Intravenous Solution (R) (Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan) is a newly developed generic drug and we have noticed that compared with conventional rocuronium formulations [e.g. Esmeron (Eslax), MSD Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan], rocuronium Maruishi appeared to cause less pain or withdrawal movement. The aim of this study was to assess the hypothesis that the injection of rocuronium Maruishi causes less body movement than rocuronium MSD does, during rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia. Methods Sixty patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups. In one group, rocuronium MSD was used and in the other group, rocuronium Maruishi was used. After induction of general anesthesia, a test drug (containing rocuronium) 0.9 mg/kg was injected. Patient's withdrawal movement was graded with the scale. Primary outcome measure was the incidence of moderate or severe movement after the injection of rocuronium. Secondary outcome measure was the degree of movement between the groups. Results Moderate or severe withdrawal movement was observed after the injection of rocuronium MSD in 11 of 30 patients (37%) and after the injection of rocuronium Maruishi in 3 of 30 patients (10%). There was a significant difference in the incidence between the groups (P = 0.013, 95% CI for difference 26-28%). The degree of movement was also significantly greater for rocuronium MSD than for rocuronium Maruishi (P = 0.015). Conclusion Compared with rocuronium MSD, rocuronium Maruishi is more suitable than conventional rocuronium formulations, for rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia.