Comparison of the recovery characteristics of midazolam, alone or antagonised with flumazenil, and thiopental in ASA III‐IV patients

Abstract

Sixty non-premedicated male patients, physically ASA III-IV, 50-80 years of age, undergoing translumbar aorthography, were randomly allocated into three groups. Group A received midazolam (0.13 mg.kg-1), group B received thiopental (4 mg.kg-1), and group C midazolam (0.13 mg.kg-1) combined with flumazenil (6 micrograms.kg-1) at the end of the operation. Three minutes before the anaesthesia began, fentanyl (1.5 micrograms.kg-1) was administered to all the patients. An evaluation was made of the time they took to open their eyes spontaneously, of time-space orientation, comprehension-collaboration, hypnosedation, psychomotor performance and memory. In groups "C" and "B" spontaneous opening of the eyes took place before that of group "A". The recovery of orientation, comprehension and hypnosedation was fastest with thiopental, next with midazolam combined with flumazenil, and later with midazolam. Psychomotor performance in Trieger test was impaired for a shorter period with thiopental than in the other two groups. Recovery in group "C" was incomplete within the time, with the result that resedation was detected in 20% of the subjects.

Comparison of induction and recovery characteristics of intravenous midazolam and thiopentone in paediatric halothane general anaesthesia

“…Loss of palpebral reflex was taken as the endpoint of induction (6). After induction, halothane 1% was used in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (2:1) to maintain anaesthesia.…”

“…At the start of injection, subjects were instructed to start counting; time intervals to the onset of dysarthria, cessation of counting, failure to open eyes on command and loss of palpebral reflex were noted. Loss of palpebral reflex was taken as the endpoint of induction (6). After induction, halothane 1% was used in a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (2:1) to maintain anaesthesia.…”