title: Pre-operative forced-air warming as a method of anxiolysis.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that pre-operative forced-air warming is as effective for anxiolysis as intravenous midazolam, using a blinded, placebo controlled factorial design. One hundred and twenty patients were randomly assigned to cotton blanket and saline injection (n = 30), forced-air warmer and saline injection (n = 30), midazolam 30 microg x kg(-1) and cotton blanket (n = 30), and forced-air warmer and midazolam 30 microg x kg(-1) (n = 30). Patients completed visual analogue scales for anxiety and thermal comfort, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, at baseline and after 20 min. The estimated effect of midazolam on visual analogue scores for anxiety was -10 (95% CI -3 to -18; p = 0.007) and on state anxiety was -5 (95% CI -7 to -4; p = 0.03). Warming had no influence on visual analogue scores for anxiety (p = 0.50) or state anxiety (p = 0.33), but its estimated effect on thermal comfort was +23 (95% CI 19-27; p < 0.0001). There was no interaction between midazolam and warming. Pre-operative warming was not equivalent to midazolam for anxiolysis and cannot be recommended solely for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajendra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D008874:Midazolam