title: Effect of preanesthetic rectal famotidine on pH and volume of gastric contents in pediatric outpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility and effects of preanesthetic rectal famotidine on gastric fluid pH and volume in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Operating room at a medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients undergoing minor surgery under general anesthesia randomly allocated to one of two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients in Group 1 were given 0.5 mg/kg of diazepam rectally 30 to 120 minutes before anesthesia induction. Thirty-eight patients in Group 2 received 1 mg/kg of famotidine, a new histamine (H2) blocker, and 0.5 mg/kg of diazepam through the same route. Six patients in Group 1 and two patients in Group 2 were excluded from the study due to gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with gastric pH less than 2.5 or volume of gastric contents greater than 0.4 ml/kg were considered to be at risk for pulmonary aspiration. Thirty-five (92%) of the Group 2 patients had gastric contents with pH greater than 2.5 and gastric volume less than or equal to 0.4 ml/kg. Only 13 (38%) of the patients in Group 1 had similar gastric pH and volume. Rectal administration did not cause the children pain, and no anorectal problems of famotidine were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Famotidine 1.0 mg/kg administered rectally 30 minutes prior to general anesthesia appears to result in a satisfactory increase in gastric pH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueyama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tashiro
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015738:Famotidine; D003975:Diazepam