Use of intravenous diazepam in patients on chronic hemodialysis undergoing surgery

Diazepam is a drug commonly used for sedation in surgery done under local anesthesia. Since its primary metabolites are excreted in the urine, its safety for use in functionally anephric patients has not been determined. This report describes the results of diazepam use in chronic hemodialysis patients undergoing angioaccess procedures. Thirty consecutive angioaccess procedures with an average duration of 1 hour and 27 minutes were done in 22 different patients using an average of 25 mg diazepam per patient. No other sedation was used. All patients except one were considered to have satisfactory sedation. Only two patients developed superficial phlebitis which had no lasting adverse effect. It is concluded that intravenous diazepam may be used in anephric patients with a response and safety comparable to that reported in patients with normal renal function.