Dextromethorphan premedication reduces midazolam requirement: objective and subjective parameters in peribronchoscopy.
BACKGROUND
Coughing is increased during bronchoscopy and may last for several hours after the procedure. Also prior to the procedure patients show high levels of anxiety due to fear of the pain and breathing difficulties that they might experience during the procedure.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the antitussive, anxiolytic and sedative effect of dextromethorphan (DM) premedication on the amount of intravenous midazolam during bronchoscopic procedures.


METHODS
Sixty consecutive patients undergoing scheduled bronchoscopy were randomly allocated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Half received 90 mg DM and half placebo. Local anesthesia with 2 ml of repeated intratracheal instillation of 1% lidocaine as needed during bronchoscopy was applied. Midazolam 1 mg (maximum of 5 mg) was administered intravenously until a satisfactory sedation was achieved.


RESULTS
Heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure and SpO(2) were assessed before and during bronchoscopy. A visual analog score (VAS) for pain, cough, communication, cooperation, emotional state, complaints, expectoration, level of information about the procedure, feeling of unpleasantness and stress level assessed before and after the examination by the patient and the physician was used. There were no significant differences in the reported degrees of difficulty in undergoing bronchoscopic procedures. DM patients needed significantly fewer lidocaine instillations and lower midazolam dosage, achieved better analgesia, had lower emotion and complaint scores, significantly less coughing, significantly less stress, were significantly more cooperative, found that the procedure was much less unpleasant than they had expected, and produced less sputum at end of the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
DM is an effective bronchoscopic premedication in combination with midazolam and improves the overall well-being of the patients.
Schwarz
Yehuda
Y
Department of Pulmonology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. schwarz@tasmc.health.gov.il
Greif
Joel
J
Lurie
Orit
O
Tarrasch
Ricardo
R
Weinbroum
Avi A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011292:Premedication
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D008874:Midazolam