COMPARISON OF MIDAZOLAM AND THIOPENTONE AS INDUCTION AGENTS IN GENERAL ANAESTHESIA.

A single blind parallel group study was performed in 137 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia to compare the efficacy and tolerability of midazolam 0.15 to 0.25 mg/kg or thiopentone 6 mg/kg. Induction time was 45.0±17.1 secs in midazolam group in comparison to 32.0±9.5 secs in thiopentone group and the frequency of apnoea was 11.5% and 17.1% respectively. There was no difference in the duration of apnoea in the two groups. No venous intolerance was experienced during the study. It appears that midazolam is a suitable alternative to thiopentone and would be of value where the latter is contraindicated.