Abstract
We have examined in eight male volunteers the effect of midazolam sedation on the relationship between timing of spontaneous ventilations and heart beat. On 2 study days, subjects received either midazolam 0.1 mg kg-1 or saline placebo while recordings were made of ECG and ventilatory impedance pneumography. We observed in all midazolam-treated subjects clear evidence of synchronous or non-synchronous coupling between ventilation and heart beat. Non-synchronous coupling was seen in two placebo-treated subjects, one of whom had slept during the recording period. We conclude that cardioventilatory coupling is a major determinant of ventilatory timing in sedated subjects.

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