A new dosage form of oxazepam buccal dispensing. Results of a double-blind premedication test.

The Wyeth company has developed a new vehicle for drugs allowing the immediate dissolving of the medication in contact with the saliva. A double-blind test with oxazepam confirms the value of this new vehicle. Moreover, contrarily to our fears, it also confirms that such dispensing had no secondary effects on the alimentary tract.

Continuous monitoring by microprocessor from the operating room to the intensive care unit.

The "Chronicler" is made up of a microcomputer (the CPU is a Motorola 6809), an alphanumeric-graphic display with keyboard and a printer. The system is connected to several physiological signal monitors and in our application to a mechanical ventilator under electronic control. It collects every 5 seconds - or at each breathing cycle if required - all the data supplied by the various measuring devices including those in the mechanical ventilator.

Pre- and postoperative use of lormetazepam.

In preoperative use, the administration of 2 mg of lormetazepam perorally to patients no doubt abnormally nervous in anticipation of a forthcoming operation has proved to be an excellent inducer of sound sleep. In postoperative use, a dose of 2 mg of lormetazepam has a positive effect compared with the placebo, both on sleep inducement and on quality and duration of sleep. However, the results of a small series of twelve patients indicate that for recently operated adults the administration of 3 mg of lormetazepam may be recommended.

Cardio-respiratory emergency: synoptic table for immediate diagnosis and action.

A new table on "Cardio-respiratory emergency," was designed for use mainly by occasional casualty doctors. It is printed in two colours, separating the diagnostic and therapeutic features. The general lay-out is from the top downward according to ABC sequence, and from the left to the right according to graduation.

Child premedication per os with lorazepam.

Our study show that lorazepam calms the child very well before his operation, as long as a minimum dose of 0.04 mg/kg is administered; if one wishes to increase the chances of provoking complete or incomplete amnesia, the dose must be increased to 0.05 mg/kg, administering a dose of 0.