Hypoglycaemia in paediatric anaesthesia: The influence of metoclopramide and oral maltose in paediatric surgical patients

Abstract

A safe and effective way to prevent the development of hypoglycaemia in young children during general anaesthesia is to give drinks sweetened with maltose 2 hours before operation. Metoclopramide (Maxolon) is injected intramuscularly to hasten absorption. The postoperative blood sugar in the maltose-treated group (28 patients) was 100+/-22-21 mg/ml (5-5+/-1-232 mmol/litre) and significantly higher ( P less than 0-0005) than in the starved group (22 patients).