Premedication with meperidine and atropine does not prolong recovery to street fitness after out-patient surgery.

The effect of premedication with meperidine and atropine on recovery to street fitness after out-patient surgery under general anaesthesia was assessed. The subjects of this study were 100 female patients undergoing therapeutic abortion. Two anaesthetic techniques were used; thiopentone-enflurane-nitrous oxide and thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide. The patients were comparable in age, weight, length of anaesthesia and time for recovery to street fitness after anaesthesia. The amount of thiopentone administered to the thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide groups was significantly greater than that administered to the thiopentone-enflurane-nitrous oxide groups. It is concluded that premedication with meperidine and atropine did not significantly prolong recovery to street fitness after out-patient surgery. Fear of prolonged recovery should not affect the decision to use premedication.