Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography and polyclonal fluorescence polarization immunoassay for the monitoring of midazolam in the plasma of intensive care unit patients.

Midazolam (M) is used as an induction agent for anesthesia. The main metabolite is alpha-hydroxymidazolam (OM), which is pharmacologically active. Use of M for sedation is a recent application, rapidly gaining favor.

[Serum histamine, osmolality and hemodynamics during aortography].

Translumbar aortic arteriography was carried out in sixteen patients by injecting 77 +/- 16 ml Télébrix 38 (sodium and meglumine ioxitalamate). Cardiac output was measured by thermodilution by means of a Swan-Ganz catheter. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and fentanyl: the patients were under controlled ventilation.