Midazolam (dormicum) as an intravenous , induction agent, a clinical experience at Muhimbili medical center

Midazolam a new intravenous induction agent of the benzodiazepine class was studied in 120 healthy unpremedicated patients. These patients were undergoing short diagnostic and therapeutic procedures lasting less than one hour. The mean duration of Anaesthesia was 22.63minutes. Rapid smooth induction of anaesthesia was attained with an induction dose of 0.3mgfkg. with the mean induction time of 67.82 seconds. Characteristics of concern were transient apnoea 25.84%, incidence of side effects which was found to be low and changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure which were found to be significant, but well torelated by these healthy patients. Haemoglobin levels as well as serum albumin levels were not shown to have any effect on the induction characteristics of midazolam. Induction was also associated with short recovery and orientation time. These were found to have a positive correlation to the duration of anaesthesia