Rectal premedication in children

Abstract

Two hundred and eight healthy children who were to undergo minor elective surgery during halothane, nitrous oxide, oxygen anaesthesia were studied in a double blind investigation to evaluate the sedative and anticholinergic effects of two rectal premedications. Group I received diazepam 0.75 mg/kg rectally; Group II received a mixture of diazepam 0.5 mg/kg, morphine 0.15 mg/kg and hyoscine 0.01 mg/kg rectally. No significant difference was found between the two groups in sedative or anticholinergic effects during induction of anaesthesia or in the postoperative period. No adverse effects were seen.