The effect of intravenous midazolam premedication on postoperative nausea and vomiting after cataract surgery

Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a common postoperative complication after ophthalmic surgeries. This randomized and doubleblind study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of midazolam in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Sixty ASA I، II adult patients، scheduled for elective cataract surgery، under general anesthesia were enrolled. No premedication was given. Anesthesia was induced with sodium thiopental. After induction، fentanyl 1 μ/ kg and atracurium 0. 6 mg/ kg were administered and an endotracheal tube was inserted. Afterinduction of anesthesia and before start of surgery، patients were randomly allocated into two groups، each to receive placebo and midazolam 20 μ/ kg. Episodes of nausea، and vomiting were recorded during the first 24 h after surgery. The incidence of postoperative nausea was 27. 7% and 23. 3% with placebo and midazolam respectively (p=0. 35). The incidence of vomiting was 16. 7% and 10% with placebo and midazolamrespectively (p=0. 19). The results of this study showed a relative reduction in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after midazolam premedication. But this finding wasn''t statistically significant. Further investigations with larger samplesize was recommended. Keywords: Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting، Midazolam، Cataract Surgery