[Hypnotic doses of midazolam administered by continuous perfusion. Analysis of predictive factors]

The hypnotic dose of midazolam administered in continuous perfusion was investigated in 76 patients undergoing programmed traumatologic or orthopedic surgery. In all cases an infusion of midazolam at a rate of mg-1 kg-1 h-1 was administered until patients closed eyes but opened them under auditive stimuli (hypnotic dose of midazolam). This dose was 5.25 +/- 2.78 mg (0.08 +/- 0.04 mg/kg) and showed a statistically significant correlation with age (r = 0.43, p = 0.002) and weight (r = 0.3, p = 0.02). There was no significant correlation with sex, ASA class, premedication, plasma proteins, and plasma albumin. Interindividual variability, especially in young patients, was high.