Comparison of oral pentazocine, oral diazepam and intramuscular pentazocine for paediatric premedication.

Oral pentazocine-atropine, oral diazepam-atropine and IM pentazocine-atropine were compared as preoperative medication in children. Observations in 300 children ages 1-14 years included the emotional state at time of induction of anaesthesia, smoothness of induction, dryness of oral mucosa and tongue, incidence of vomiting, and emotional state and length of stay in the recovery room. The incidence of a calm state at the time of induction and smoothness of induction of anaesthesia was the same following oral and IM premedication. There was satisfactory drying of salivary secretions. The incidence of vomiting in the recovery room was the same following oral and IM premedication. However, children in age groups 1-4 and 5-9 years who received diazepam-atropine were more restless in the recovery room than those who received oral or IM pentazocine-atropine. More children in groups 1-4 and 5-9 years who received IM pentazocine-atropine stayed longer in the recovery room. We conclude that oral diazepam-atropine and oral pentazocine-atropine are comparable as to preoperative medication IM pentazocine-atropine and that they can be given as an alternate to intramuscular injection.