Premedication for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Abstract

We performed upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of 371 cases to examine whether pethidine, used in addition to diazepam, improved patient tolerance to upper GI endoscopy compared with the use of diazepam alone. Out of the 274 cases, received diazepam alone, 138 patients (50.4%) answered that they were sleeping during upper GI endoscopy and felt pleasant. But 8 patients gagged severe although they felt pleasant. On the other hand, out of 97 cases who received pethidine in combination with low dose diazapam, 56 cases (57.7%) answered that they were awake during upper GI endoscopy but felt no discomfort. And almost all patients showed no gagging during the procedure of upper GI endoscopy. Three cases showed slight respiratory depression but recovered soon by call their attention to deep breathing. We conclude that pethidine in combination with low dose diazepam is more exellent sedation than diazepam alone, if only we use them carefully.