Comparison of glucagon and pethidine plus atropine as premedication for peroral endoscopy. A double blind study.

In a double blind study 30 male patients subjected to peroral endoscopy were given 0.5 mg glucagon (G) and 50 mg pethidine plus 0.5 mg atropine (PA) intravenously for premedication. The results showed that the PA group of patients had less discomfort, vomiting, salivary and gastric secretion during the examination than the G group. The arrestment of motility was significantly more prolonged in the G group of patients; otherwise no difference was found regarding the relaxation of the antrum, pylorus and duodenal bulb. This suggests glucagon to be superior to pethidine plus atropine when examinating these regions except in anxious patients which probably should have a sedative in addition to glucagon as premendication for peroral endoscopy.