Section C Lorazepam as a premedicant for general anaesthesia

Abstract

Two studies are described, an open study on the degree of sedation produced by lorazepam and its effects on memory recall; and a double-blind study comparing lorazepam with heptabarbitone and diazepam. Overall, lorazepam has proved to be an interesting agent in premedication. It has many of the attributes of the narcotics -good sedation, good effect on memory recall and some post-operative basal narcosis which is of advantage in major operations. On the other hand, in the doses used it appears to have little effect on the cardiovascular system and is less likely to cause post-operative nausea and vomiting than the narcotic group.

Key words: :

• Lorazepam
• anaesthesia
• general
• preanaesthetic medication
• postoperative complications
• amnesia