title: Comparative cardiovascular effects of midazolam and thiopental in healthy patients.
abstract: Midazolam, a water-soluble benzodiazepine that is shorter-acting, more potent, and less irritating to veins than diazepam, has been suggested for use for induction of anesthesia. The cardiovascular effects of an induction-sized dose (0.25 mg/kg) of midazolam in A.S.A. class I or II surgical patients (N = 11) sedated with morphine and N2O-O2 were compared in a double-blind fashion with a similar group of patients (N = 9) receiving thiopental (4.0 mg/kg). Consistent with earlier studies, patients given thiopental experienced downward trends from base line in mean arterial pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and heart rate; mean right atrial pressure increased slightly, whereas systemic vascular resistance did not change. Induction of anesthesia with midazolam was associated with more gradual and less pronounced hemodynamic alteration; the only significant changes from base line were decreases in mean arterial pressure 5 and 10 minutes after injection. When the two groups were compared, no significant differences were found. Midazolam is, then, as acceptable for induction of anesthesia as thiopental from a hemodynamic point of view in A.S.A. class I and II patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D013874:Thiopental; D008874:Midazolam