title: Rectally administered morphine: plasma concentrations in children premedicated with morphine in hydrogel and in solution.
abstract: Seventeen healthy children undergoing eye surgery in general anaesthesia were given morphine rectally for premedication. Six patients (Group I) were given morphine 0.15 mg X kg-1 in a propylene glycol solution also containing diazepam and hyoscine. Eleven patients (Group II) were given morphine 0.5 mg X kg-1 in a starch hydrogel preparation. The plasma concentrations of morphine (Groups I and II) and diazepam (Group I) were studied. After the lower dosage of morphine the plasma concentrations never exceeded 10 ng X ml-1, whereas the mean peak plasma concentration was 25.3 +/- 5.5 ng X ml-1 after the higher dosage. One child in each of Groups I and II needed postoperative analgesics. The simultaneous plasma concentration of morphine was then lower than 5 ng X ml-1. Postoperative nausea occurred to about the same extent in both groups. It is suggested that morphine given rectally in a starch hydrogel may be an alternative to oral and parenteral routes of administration.
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003975:Diazepam / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D012007:Rectum; D012996:Solutions; D013213:Starch / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; C036577:starch hydrogel copolymer; D009020:Morphine; D013213:Starch; D003975:Diazepam