[The influence of premedication with dipotassium chlorazepate on preoperative stress and postoperative pain].

Despite the fact that dipotassium chlorazepate (DC) is widely used for oral premedication there are few studies demonstrating the effects of this drug reliably in the preoperative patient. Therefore, we investigated the influence of DC on preoperative sleep, stress and postoperative pain, which is presumed to be influenced by the long-acting anxiolytic property of DC compared to a placebo in a double-blind study. Sixty patients undergoing dental surgery received either 20 mg DC or a placebo in the evening and at 7 o'clock in the morning before the operation, both administered orally. The quality of sleep, preoperative anxiety, depression, asthenia and postoperative pain were assessed, using nominal and visual analogous scales. The degree of sedation and the quality of premedication were assessed by the anesthesiologist. Blood pressure and heart rate were registered and interpreted as physiological stress parameters. The 2 groups were comparable with respect to the anthropometric data as well as the initial values of all other parameters. Patients receiving DC reported significantly better quality of sleep in the night before the operation. There was no difference between DC and P concerning preoperative stress either emotionally or physiologically. The postoperative pain intensity did not differ between the two groups. The quality of premedication, assessed by the observer, was comparable in both groups. Whereas DC has a positive effect on the quality of sleep in preoperative patients, it does not influence the preoperative stress on the day of operation. This might be dose-dependent, but 20 mg is recommended for premedication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)