Preparing the paediatric patient for their operating room experience can be a complex process because of the many individuals involved.4 36 38 Preparation begins before patients have seen an anaesthetist because they will learn of their impending surgery from the surgeon. Surgical colleagues and their support staff can help to ease parents’ anxieties by assuring them that their child will recei...

A randomised, double-blind trial of atropine, atropine plus papaveretum, and atropine plus diazepam given intramuscularly as premedication for fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 60 patients showed no difference between the three regimens as assessed by bronchoscopist or patient. Bronchoscopists frequently attributed a sedative action to atropine alone and their assessment of tolerance and sedation was ...

The sedative effects of nitrazepam in a dose of 5 mg and 10 mg have been compared with Mandrax, a combination of methaqualone 250 mg with diphenhydramine 25 mg. Studies were carried out in gynaecological patients undergoing minor surgical operations using the scoring system previously described. The degree of sedation obtained after administration of the two dose levels of nitrazepam was compar...

PREMEDICATION is one of the most valuable elements in the production of good anesthesia and is of great psychological importance. Every an3esthetist knows how difficult it is at times to get good relaxation, without deepening the anesthesia to a dangerous degree; with a suitable narcotic administered one hour before operation, these difficulties should be greatly lessened. There would seem to b...