[Midazolam during cardiac pacemaker implantation].

Midazolam (Dormicum Roche) was administered to 40 patients aged 68 +/- 11 years (5 mg by the i.v. route), along with phentanyl and droperidol before primo-implantation or replacement of pacemaker under local anaesthesia. Another 5 mg were administered at the end of the operation before the final skin suture. In all patients a favourable sedative effect was achieved with rapid regression after the operation was completed, in the majority with retrograde amnesia. None of the patients developed respiratory arrest or mental alteration during the postoperative period, while in an equal number of patients in the control group both complications occurred three times.