Experience with triazolam as a preoperative sedative for outpatient surgery under local anesthesia

Triazolam, a new benzodiazepine hypnotic agent with an ultra-short duration of action, was given preoperatively to 251 outpatients who underwent plastic surgical procedures under local anesthesia. Satisfactory sedation was obtained in 96% of the patients, all of whom received intravenous diazepam primarily for its amnesic action. There were no untoward results attributed to triazolam and no residual effects postoperatively. Triazolam may be preferable over other benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic agents used for outpatient surgery because of its rapid onset and short half-life.