Hemodynamic Responses to Anesthetic Induction with Midazolam or Diazepam in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Hemodynamic responses to induction of anesthesia with midazolam maleate and diazepam were compared in patients with ischemic heart disease. While breathing 100% oxygen, 10 patients (group M) received midazolam maleate, 0.2 mg/kg, and 10 patients (group D) received diazepam, 0.5 mg/kg. In addition, 10 patients (group MN) breathing 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen received midazolam, 0.2 mg/kg. Patients in group M had a small but statistically significant (p less than 0.05) decrease (vs awake control values) in systemic and pulmonary arterial blood pressure, pulmonary arterial occluded pressure, stroke index, and left and right ventricular stroke work indices. Patients in group D experienced statistically significant decreases in systemic blood pressure. The only statistically significant differences between groups M and D occurred 5 minutes followed drug administration: heart rates were higher and systemic pressures and left ventricular stroke work indices were lower following midazolam. Hemodynamic changes following midazolam and nitrous oxide were similar to those observed in patients given midazolam and 100% oxygen. Patients in all three groups responded to endotracheal intubation with transient increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance, but the hemodynamic values spontaneously returned toward control levels within 2 to 5 minutes. Although differing somewhat, midazolam, like diazepam, provided rapid, hemodynamically stable induction of anesthesia in patients with ischemic heart disease.