[Midazolam combined with neuroleptanesthesia as a hypnotic].

Two groups of 20 women randomly distributed underwent general anaesthesia based on dextromoramide and droperidol. Midazolam was given 0.2 mg X kg-1 in the first group, 0.4 mg X kg-1 in the second. Induction was considered satisfactory in more than 90 p. cent of patients in both groups (NS). Midazolam produced a decrease of systolic blood pressure of 9 mm Hg in group I (p less than 0,001) and 11 mm Hg in group II (p less than 0,001) as well as a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of 5 mm Hg (p less than 0,025) and 7 mm Hg (p less than 0,005) respectively. Heart rate decreased significantly only in group II (by 4 c X mn-1, p less than 0,01). These alterations were similar in both groups and did not reach physiologic importance. Maintenance of anesthesia as well as recovery were uneventful in all cases. Higher doses of midazolam reduced only slightly the dose of the neuroleptic. Its is concluded that midazolam is a good induction agent neuroleptic-analgesic anaesthesia. The use of more than 0.2 mg X kg-1 is of no particular interest but is well tolerated.