SEDATION FOR FIBREOPTIC GASTROSCOPY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MIDAZOLAM AND DIAZEPAM

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Abstract
Midazolam, a water-soluble benzodiazepine, was compared with diazepam in fat emulsion (Diazemuls) as sedation for outpatient gastroscopy in a randomized double-blind fashion. Midazolam 0.05 mg kg-1 was approximately equipotent to Diazemuls 0.15 mg kg-1. There were no differences concerning speed of recovery and all patients were considered ready for discharge after 2 h. Venous tolerance was good for both drugs. With the same degree of sedation, midazolam produced a higher frequency of amnesia (60% vs. 7%; P < 0.001) for the endoscopic procedure. Although the patients appeared to prefer midazolam to Diazemuls, this difference was significant only in patients who had not previously undergone gastroscopy (P < 0.05). The high degree of amnesia with midazolam may be an advantage in sedation for unpleasant procedures like gastroscopy.