A comparison of high-dose pentazocine with pethidine and diazepam in paediatric premedication

A comparision of a high dose of pentazocine (0.9 mg/kg), and moderate doses of pethidine (1 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.2 mg/kg) as pre-anaesthetic medication was carried out in a double-blind between-patient placebo-controlled trial in 200 children. The assessment of the drugs as pre-anesthetic medication was made by comparing the sedative effect before induction, the status of the patient at induction and the patient's behaviour in the recovery room. All the active drugs were superior to the placebo at induction of anaesthesia. Postoperatively the sedative effect of the high dose of pentazocine was superior to that of the other active drugs, presumably due to the strong analgesic effect at this dose. The rate of respiration was clearly lower after pentazocine than after the other two active drugs. Other side effects or complications did not differ between the groups. It is concluded that, in spite of its favourable sedative effect, a high dose of pentazocine should be used with caution in pediatric premedication because of the possibility of slight respiratory depression.