Background: Succinylcholine is a depolarizing muscle relaxant, provides ideal muscle relaxation for surgical procedures along with anesthetics. Which is extensively used short acting muscle relaxant, with several undesirable side effects. These side effects are muscular fasciculations, postoperative muscle pains, rise in serum potassium, rise in intraocular tension and intragastric pressure. Nondepolarizing muscle relaxants like Atracurium and Rocuronium are better in reducing the fasciculation and myalgia in comparison with other drugs. Hence,our main aim of this study to compare the effect of  Rocuronium and Atracurium on Succinylcholine induced myalgia.

Methodology: We compared the incidence of  postoperative myalgia (POM) with Atracurium (ATR) and Rocuronium (ROC) in different groups prior to Succinylcholine for tracheal intubation by using ASA class 1 or 11 in all patients posted for surgery under general anesthesia.The subjects were assigned to one of three groups: group 1 received Normal saline 5ml; group 2 received 0.05 mg/kg Rocuronium; and group 3 Atracurium 0.05mg/kg. Thiopentone was administered 1min 45 sec after pretreatment to induce anesthesia. Three minutes after, Succinylcholine 2 mg/kg was given, and fasciculations were recorded on a scale of 03. Postoperative myalgia was assessed at 6,12 and 24hrs by questionnaire and graded 03.

Results: Patient demographic profile and baseline parameters were comparable and there were no differences between these groups. Post operative myalgia though it is seen more with NS and Atracurium than Rocuronium. There was no statistical differences seen at 6, 12 and 24 hrs after surgery.

Conclusion: The severity of Succinylcholine induced Post operative myalgia was reduced significantly with Rocuronium than Atracurium.