Effect of Intrathecal Midazolam in the Severity of Pain in Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trail

BACKGROUND: The benzodiazepines are used primarily for anxiolysis, amnesia and sedation. However, recent investigations have shown that some forms of this group of drugs have also direct effect on pain. This study aims to determine the effect of midazolam in reducing the severity of pain in women scheduled for elective cesarean section. METHODS: In a prospective, double blind randomized controlled trial, two groups parallel study, was conducted in Imam Reza/Moatazedi Hospital, an affiliate of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Parturient women who met study inclusion criteria were consecutively assigned into either experimental (n=62) or control groups (n=62). Women in the experimental group received bupivacaine (10 mg) plus intrathecal midazolam (2 mg/ml) (BM) and those in the control group received bupivacaine plus normal saline (BNS). The outcome pain severity was measured by Verbal Numerical Rating Scale. RESULTS: In comparison with the BNS group, mothers in the BM group reported a significant relief in pain (15 min and 120 min) after the surgery. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the intensity of pain 5, 30, 60 and 240 min after the surgery. The average time until the first dose of additional analgesic, per mother’s request was 142.18±55.19 min in the BNS vs 178.06±77.33 min in the BM group. CONCLUSION: Combination of bupivacaine plus intrathecal midazolam was an effective anesthetic technique to provide improvement in pain. The onset of sedation was faster in the BM group compared with the BNS group. The duration of effective analgesia, and the time for regression of sensory analgesia was the same in both groups in our study. However, incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher in the experimental group.