Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

  Midazolam , a benzodiazepine, is currently the drug most commonly used to  reduce preoperative anxiety and induce sedation. It can be administered intravenously and orally. In adults, it can be used to control preoperative anxiety and, during a procedure alone or in combination with other drugs, for intravenous sedation . For children, oral midazolam in doses as small as 0.25 mg/kg

Sedation is a continuum which extends from a normal conscious level to being fully unresponsive.    Indications for procedural sedation, stratified by urgency Emergent (e.g. cardioversion for life-threatening dysrhythmia, reduction of markedly angulated fracture/dislocation with soft tissue or vascular compromise, intractable pain or suffering). Urgent (e.g. care of dirty wounds and lacerations, animal and human bites, fracture reduction, shoulder reduction, hip reduction, arthrocentesis, neuroimaging for trauma). Semi-urgent (e.g. care of clean wounds and lacerations, foreign body removal, sexual assault examination). The pharmacological agents typically used for procedural sedation