Oral ketamine premedication for paediatric cardiac surgery--a comparison with intramuscular morphine (both after oral trimeprazine).

In a single-blind controlled study, forty children with congenital heart disease were premedicated with oral trimeprazine 3 mg/kg and either intramuscular morphine 0.1 mg/kg or oral ketamine 10 mg/kg. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of premedication and degree of sedation induced were similar in the two groups of patients. Oral ketamine is a safe and effective premedicant in this group of patients.