• O Kemmotsu, M Mizushima, Y Morimoto, R Numazawa, S Kaseno, T Yamamura, and S Yokota.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
• J Clin Anesth. 1991 Nov 1; 3 (6): 451-5.

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of preanesthetic administration of intramuscular (IM) ranitidine on pH and volume of gastric contents in children.DesignThree randomized treatment groups.SettingCentral operating rooms at a university hospital.PatientsForty children age 1 to 10 years undergoing a variety of elective surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.InterventionsIM ranitidine 1 mg/kg (n = 15) or 2 mg/kg (n = 15) was administered 2 hours prior to induction of anesthesia. Ten patients without ranitidine served as the control group. An orogastric tube was inserted into each patient.Measurements And Main ResultsGastric fluid pH and volume were measured every hour in the three groups. Plasma ranitidine concentrations were measured in ten patients of the ranitidine-treated groups. The mean volume of gastric fluid at induction of anesthesia was significantly lower in the ranitidine-treated patients (2.4 ml for ranitidine 1 mg/kg, 3.2 ml for ranitidine 2 mg/kg) than in the controls (8.6 ml; p less than 0.05). The mean pH values at induction of anesthesia were significantly higher in the ranitidine-treated patients (4.6 for 1 mg/kg, 6.7 for 2 mg/kg) than in the controls (2.1; p less than 0.05). Dose-dependent plasma ranitidine concentrations were obtained.ConclusionsPreanesthetic IM ranitidine 1 to 2 mg/kg resulted in a higher pH and lower volume of gastric fluid at the time of induction and in a higher pH during 3 hours of anesthesia. This therapy may be a useful adjunct to premedication for children who have a greater than normal risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia.

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