[Midazolam and pethidine/promethazine for intramuscular premedication]

The main reason for premedication is the reduction of preoperative stress. Despite the proven fact that benzodiazepines best reduce preoperative stress, combinations of opioids and neuroleptic drugs are preferred for premedication by many on reviewing the journal Der Anaesthesist. This double-blind study was performed to investigate midazolam and meperidine/promethazine for intramuscular premedication. Method. 60 patients undergoing minor gynecological surgery were randomly assigned to receive either 5-7.5 mg midazolam or 50-75 mg meperidine and 25-50 mg promethazine intramuscularly 30-90 min before surgery. Anxiety, depression, and asthenia were assessed by the patient before and after premedication but before induction of anesthesia using visual analogue scales and a nominal scale. Sedation was assessed by an observer. Heart rate and blood pressure were the physiological stress parameters. Parameters of acceptance and side effects were registered perioperatively. Results. Midazolam had a significantly better anxiolytic and antidepressive effect. There were no differences in the other parameters except for adverse effects. Meperidine/promethazine produced significantly more side-effects than midazolam. The parameters of acceptance assessed the day after surgery were comparable. Conclusions. We conclude from these results that anesthesiologists still premedicate with meperidine/promethazine because the patients accept this premedication very well when asked the day after surgery. Nevertheless, premedication with midazolam provides significantly better anxiolytic and antidepressive effects with significantly less side-effects. Therefore, midazolam should be preferred to meperidine/promethazine for intramuscular premedication.