Lorazepam as a premedicant for regional anaesthesia

In a double-blind controlled trial of male patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate, oral lorazepam was assessed against a placebo. The same anaesthetist performed all spinal blocks and made all assessments. The patients who received lorazepam had substantial amnesia for the operation and were drowsier, but remained cooperative during the procedure. Patient anxiety as assessed by the anaesthetist and as recalled by the patient was decreased, although anxiety assessment by linear analogue was the same for both groups. Lorazepam significantly increased the patient acceptability of spinal anaesthesia.