Comparison between propofol and midazolam as sedative agents for surgery under regional anaesthesia

Propofol (25 patients) or midazolam (25 patients) was used to provide sedation in patients who underwent abdominal or orthopaedic surgery under epidural anaesthesia after intravenous premedication with droperidol 1 mg and fentanyl 20 micrograms. The quality of sedation whilst the block was performed, was assessed as good in 19 patients after propofol 1.49 mg/kg but six patients exhibited uncontrolled movement. Good sedation was provided in 22 patients after midazolam 3 mg. A mean infusion rate of propofol of 1.74 mg/kg/hour resulted in easily controllable sedation during the procedure. Eleven patients given midazolam required no further sedation but a mean of 5.79 mg was needed in the remaining 14 patients; the dose was unpredictable in individual patients. Recovery was significantly more rapid in the propofol group.