Peroral diazepam compared with parenteral morphine/scopolamine with regard to gastric content.

In a prospective study, 62 adult patients were studied with respect to the volume and pH of their gastric contents after receiving randomly one of three different premedications. One group received flunitrazepam 2 mg perorally on the night before operation and diazepam 0.2 mg per kg body weight perorally at 7.00 a.m. on the day of operation. The patients in the second group were given flunitrazepam 2 mg perorally the night before operation and morphine/scopolamine i.m. 1 h prior to operation. In the third group no flunitrazepam was given on the night before operation, and the patients were premedicated with morphine/scopolamine i.m. 1 h preoperatively. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups with respect to the volume and pH of gastric contents after induction of anaesthesia.