Melperon premedication for cataract surgery. A comparison with diazepam

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Preoperative anxiety management is crucial for geriatric patients undergoing surgery.
• Regional anesthesia for cataract surgery requires effective anxiolytic premedication.
• Comparing neuroleptics and benzodiazepines for perioperative anxiety is clinically relevant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of melperon versus diazepam as a peroral premedicant in geriatric patients undergoing cataract surgery.
• To assess patient anxiety levels and the need for intraoperative supplementary medication.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 100 geriatric patients (50 per group) undergoing cataract surgery under regional block.
• Patients received either melperon (15-30 mg) or diazepam (4-10 mg) as peroral premedication.
• Anxiety was assessed using qualitative subjective estimation; need for supplementary intravenous drugs was recorded.

Main Results:

• Melperon and diazepam demonstrated equal efficacy in reducing preoperative anxiety.
• Patients treated with melperon required significantly fewer supplementary intravenous drugs during surgery compared to the diazepam group.
• Melperon was found to be a compatible alternative, with occasional arterial hypotension noted as a potential side effect.

Conclusions:

• Melperon is a viable and effective alternative to diazepam for anxiolytic premedication in geriatric cataract surgery patients.
• Melperon may reduce the need for intraoperative sedatives, potentially simplifying anesthetic management.
• Clinicians should be aware of melperon's potential to cause arterial hypotension.