[The influence of sedation with diazepam and flunitrazepam during regional anaesthesia upon postoperative pulmonary performance (author's transl)].

In 32 patients between 53 and 86 years of age, undergoing transurethral prostatectomy, the influence of intraoperative sedation with Diazepam (5-10 mg) and Flunitrazepam (0,4-0,8 mg) on postoperative forced vital capacity, forced exspiratory volume (1 sec.) and peakflow, were measured, compared to placebo. We could not find a depression of these ventilatory parameters, in the three groups except peak-flow after sedation with Flunitrazepam in the evening after operation (p less than or equal to 0,05). We conclude that sedation during regional anesthesia does not impair the most important advantage of local anesthesia, the minor effect on ventilation, compared with general anesthesia.