Anxiolytic effect of midazolam premedication assessed by clinical and platelet aggregation profiles

It is well documented that surgery is associated with increased anxiety, which has an adverse impact on patient's outcome. This study was designed to assess the anxiolytic effect of midazolam in pre-anaesthetic medication by using clinical and platelet aggregation profiles.

Sixty ASA I and II female patients aged between 35 and 60 years undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group I received placebo as pre-medication while group II received 0.15 mg/kg midazolam as pre-medication 1 hour preoperatively. They were monitored for visual analogue scale (VAS) for anxiety, observer's anxiety criteria, sedation score, blood pressure, heart rate and platelet aggregation profile immediately before and 1 hour after pre-medication.

There was statistically significant difference with respect to VAS of anxiety, observer's anxiety criteria, sedation scores, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Heart rate was higher in the midazolam group but this was not statistically significant. There was no statistical significant difference in platelet aggregation profile in the two groups.

Findings of the study suggest midazolam is a good anxiolytic for pre-medication and its effect on platelet aggregation profile needs to be further evaluated.