Respiratory function following premedication with droperidol or diazepam.

Respiratory function was measured before and 1 hour after premedication with diazepam (10 mg IM) or droperidol (5 mg IM) in 2 groups of 14 normal patients scheduled for elective surgery. Diazepam had no significant effects on respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation, dead space, VD/VT %, alveolar ventilation, expired Po2, or Pco2, end-tidal Pco2, arterial Po2 or Pco2, or alveolar-arterial Po2 or Pco2 gradients. Droperidol was associated with statistically significant but modest reductions in tidal volume (-13.3%) and minute ventilation (-8.4%) while other respiratory functions remained unaffected.