[Sedation with benzodiazepine in ophthalmologic surgery: comparative study of diazepam and midazolam]

To evaluate the effect of giving diazepam and midazolam, respectively 0.1 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg on: PAS, PAD, PAM, HR, SaO2 and sedation level at 10, 30, and 50 minutes from injection. These drugs were utilized as sedatives during retrobulbar blockade as anaesthetics technique in cataract surgery. Randomized double blind in operating room for opthalmic surgery in general hospital.

40 patients (ASA II, III) with mean age 78 +/- 7 divided in two groups with homogeneous morphological and clinic parameters, scheduled for elective cataract surgery. During retrobulbar blockade as anaesthetic technique the patients received diazepam and midazolam in equipotent quantities. Serial measurements of PAS, PAD, PAM, HR, SaO2 and sedation level.

Both drugs proved significantly depressant on PAS, PAD, PAM, HR, SaO2. Midazolam proved more depressant than diazepam on SaO2 at 10 minutes from injection; the depression was the same for both drugs at 50 minutes. Sedation level seems higher for midazolam group than diazepam at 10 and 30 minutes, approximately the same for both groups at 50 minutes.

Our results agree with there in the literature. The data show that midazolam is more depressant than diazepam on SaO2 at 10 minutes from injection and the necessity of a controlled "tritation" in small doses for intravenous use of midazolam.