Effects of diazepam and midazolam on recovery from anaesthesia in outpatients

Sixty patients were randomly allocated in an open study to receive either midazolam or diazepam (Diazemuls) with fentanyl and etomidate for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia during day-stay gynaecological surgery. The excitatory effects of etomidate were controlled by the benzodiazepine-fentanyl combination in both groups. No significant difference in the quality of recovery (as judged by Trieger test analysis), amnesia, incidence of recall of pain on injection of etomidate or nausea and vomiting could be demonstrated between the groups. There was a high degree (97%) of patient acceptance.