Diazepam dosage and timing in ketamine combination anaesthesia. A double-blind study
Mattila, M.A.; Hynynen, K.H.; Eronen, R.; Heikkinen, S.; Hyvönen, E.A.; Pekkola, P.O.; Bäckström, M.H.
Der Anaesthesist 30(10): 500-503
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-2417 PMID: 7304902 Document Number: 173848
A form of combination anesthesia using ketamine, diazepam, alcuronium and N2O was used in 41 patients over 65 yr requiring abdominal surgery. The patients were premedicated with droperidol 2.5-7.5 mg i.m. At induction the patients received diazepam 5 mg, ketamine 2 mg/kg and alcuronium 0.2 mg/kg. Anesthesia was maintained with a continuous, steady injection of ketamine 2.5 mg/kg per h and N2O-O2 with controlled ventilation. The patients received 1 ml of coded solution 4 min before incision and at the end of anesthesia, which contained either 5 mg/ml diazepam or its solvent only. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups, i.e., patients receiving either 15 or 5 mg of diazepam. The incidence of bad dreams was 5%, i.e., 1 patient in each group. Only 1 patient vomited and 1 had pronounced nausea in the 5 mg group. This type of combination anesthesia was highly acceptable. Despite there being no statistically significant differences between the patients who received 5 + 5 + 5 mg of diazepam compared to those receiving 5 + 0 + 0 mg, the figures favor the use of 5 + 5 + 5 mg of diazepam.