ABSTRACT
A study on intravenous sedation in dental surgery was conducted comparing diazepam with midazolam. One hundred and twenty patients, aged between 12 and 50 years, ASA grade I or II divided randomly into two groups. A total of 80 patients received diazepam 0.03 mg/kg with fentanyl 0.7 microg/kg [Group-A], and 40 patients received midazolam 0.03 mg/kg with fentanyl 0.7 microg/kg [group-B]. In both groups, the dental surgeon gave 1.5-3 ml xylocaine 0.5% with adrenaline 1:200.000 to perform the nerve block to the upper or lower jaw as needed. No premedication was given. Perioperative cardiovascular effects, anterograde amnesia, respiration, oxygen saturation, patient satisfaction and adverse venous sequelae were investigated. Blood pressure was reduced in both groups; the reduction was less than 30 mmHg, the difference was not significant. In diazepam group [A], 30% were able to remember the events, 25% suffered painful injection, 10% suffered redness and swelling at site of injection. In midazolam group [B], 10% were able to remember the events, no patient suffered redness and swelling at site of injection or painful injection, the difference was statistically significant for these adverse effects. Both drugs gave safe and acceptable sedation. Midazolam was superior to diazepam, had better amnesic effects, more patient satisfaction with no incidence of venous sequelae