Flumazenil [anexate] versus non-specific benzodiazepines antagonist for recovery of patients using subjective and psychomotor assessments

ABSTRACT

80 patients were scheduled for minor surgical procedures [herniorrhaphy, cystolithotomy, excision of bladder ulcer or diagnostic cystoscope], their age ranged from 18-60 years of both sexes, they received benzodiazepines supplementation for regional anaesthesia. At the end of surgery sedation is reversed by flumazenil [Anexate], naloxone, aminophylline and placebo. The recovery was evaluated by recovery assessment of level of sedation, comprehension and co-peration, temporo-spatial orientation, cognitive and psychomotor tests and anterograde amnesia. The parameters are measured 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after injection of the trial drug. Recovery score, comprehension and co-operation, orientation and psychomotor assessment showed marked and significant improvement after flumazenil in comparison with placebo, as regard the anterograde amnesia significant changes were noted between flumazenil and placebo; resedation was more with diazepam subgroups. There was no role for naloxone which was similar to placebo while aminophylline hasten the recovery from benzodiazepine sedation but more late if compared with flumazenil [30 minutes post-aminophylline versus 5 minutes post-flumazenil injection]