[Famotidine dosage in children. The effect of different doses on the pH and volume of the gastric juice].

Children undergoing general anesthesia are at increased risk of severe aspiration pneumonitis. Cimetidine and ranitidine, specific histamine (H2-receptor) antagonists, when given 1-3 h preoperatively markedly reduce the acidity and volume of gastric content. A newer compound, famotidine, is a more specific antagonist with no inhibitory effect on the drug metabolizing microsomal enzyme systems of the liver (cytochrome P-450), in contrast to cimetidine. An additional clinical advantage is a possible longer duration of action. In order to evaluate these potential advantages we studied the effects of preanesthetic oral famotidine on gastric fluid pH and volume in 4 groups in a random manner. METHODS. With parental consent, 107 infants and children (ASA I status, 4 months to 14 years old, NPO for at least 6 h) received either no famotidine (n = 29) or 0.15 mg/kg (n = 27), 0.3 mg/kg (n = 25) or 0.6 mg/kg (n = 26) famotidine at 7.00 a.m. Following induction by mask with nitrous oxide/oxygen (N2O/O2) and enflurane (E) or i.v. thiopental, intubation was performed in all patients. Anesthesia was maintained with N2O/O2 and E. A orogastric double-lumen tube was passed into the stomach, and the gastric content was aspirated in a uniform manner. Gastric volume was recorded and pH values were measured with pH paper. RESULTS. In the control group, 28 of 29 patients (97%) had a pH less than 2.5, 18/29 (62%) had a gastric volume greater than 0.4 ml/kg and 17/29 (59%) had a pH less than 2.5 and gastric volume greater than 0.4 ml/kg, meaning an increased risk of pneumonitis if the child aspirates the gastric content. Famotidine administration was effective between 1.5 and 6 h after oral administration. Preoperative famotidine application produces pH values of gastric contents higher than 2.5 in all dosage groups (84%, 94%, 75%), and these differences were highly significant (P less than 0.001), whereas the gastric volume reduction with these doses was not significant. The incidence of pH less than 2.5 and volume of gastric contents exceeding 0.4 ml/kg did not vary with the different doses of famotidine. As there were no measurable differences in the effect of famotidine, we recommend that children at high risk of pulmonary aspiration receive 0.15 mg/kg famotidine orally at least 1.5 h but not later than 6 h before induction.