Anesthesia for termination of pregnancy: midazolam compared with methohexital

Clinical effects of intermittent intravenous administration of midazolam were compared with those of methohexital in two groups of ten premedicated patients each undergoing suction termination of pregnancy under general anesthesia. Both groups received intravenous fentanyl (1 microgram/kg) 5 min prior to administration of the induction agent. No significant difference was found between the two groups in induction time and quality of anesthesia. The recovery time was significantly (17 min) longer in patients who received midazolam (P less than 0.0001).