Does preoperative anxiety influence gastric fluid volume and acidity?

Preoperative anxiety may increase gastric fluid acidity and volume. To pursue this possibility we evaluated the relationship between peroral premedication, preoperative anxiety, and gastric content in 246 consecutive patients presenting for elective gynecologic surgery. All patients fasted overnight and received either flunitrazepam 1 mg, oxazepam 25 mg, or placebo with 20 mL of water on the morning of surgery in a randomized, double-blind fashion.

[Fatal infection after a dog bite. Septicemia caused by Dysgonic fermenter 2 bacteria].

The article describes a case of lethal septicaemia caused by the bacterium Dysgonic fermenter 2, following a dog bite. We discuss symptoms, bacteriology and treatment, and present a review of the literature.

Benzodiazepines as oral premedication. A comparison between oxazepam, flunitrazepam and placebo.

Oxazepam 25 mg, flunitrazepam 1 mg and placebo were compared as oral premedication in 602 gynecological patients in a double-blind randomised parallel study. In 251 patients undergoing major surgery the same drug was also given as a hypnotic the night before the operation. Both active drugs shortened the sleep-onset time, decreased the number of spontaneous awakenings at night and improved the quality of sleep when compared to placebo.