[Risks of premedication with benzodiazepines exemplified by a case of asphyxia caused by flunitrazepam]

Oral premedication with benzodiazepines is well established in clinical anaesthesia. Appreciation of the specific pharmacodynamic profile of available drugs suggest individual prescription for certain groups of patients. We report a case of severe respiratory depression following oral premedication with flunitrazepam 1 mg in a patient with intracranial neoplasma. With respect to this complication and a review of the literature we suggest administration of short acting benzodiazepines with pronounced anxiolytic and moderate sedative properties (lormetazepam type) for neurosurgical patients.