The influence of diazepam on the plasma concentrations of bupivacaine and lignocaine after caudal injection of a mixture of the local anaesthetics in children.

Twenty-one children undergoing surgery received a caudal block using 1 ml kg-1 of a mixture of 50% lignocaine (1%) and 50% bupivacaine (0.25%). They were randomized into two groups, one of which received diazepam 10 mg rectally as premedication. Diazepam administration resulted in significantly higher Cmax and AUC values for bupivacaine but did not influence the plasma concentrations of lignocaine.