Effect of intravenous midazolam on breathing pattern and chest wall mechanics in human

Breathing pattern, thoracoabdominal motion, and separate end-expiratory positions of the rib cage and abdomen were measured noninvasively in eight healthy subjects before and after intravenous administration of either placebo or midazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine. Compared with placebo, midazolam produced a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in mean inspiratory flow of 29% from preinjection values, resulting in a 39% reduction in tidal volume (VT). This ventilatory depression was partly compensated by a 35% decrease in expiratory time producing an increase in respiratory rate (+39%). The fall in VT was almost entirely (91%) mediated by a reduction of the abdominal contribution to tidal breathing while sparing rib cage motion. This fact contrasts with the effects of inhalational anesthetics or morphine, which preferentially depress rib cage expansion, indicating that thoracoabdominal motion may selectively be depressed by different pharmacological agents. In addition, continuous recording of end-expiratory levels showed a significant transient fall in the rib cage's end-tidal position 2 min after midazolam administration associated with the occurrence of central apneas.