We found no evidence of a difference in time to discharge from hospital, assessed by clinical criteria, in patients who received anxiolytic premedication. However, in view of the age and variety of anaesthetic techniques used and clinical heterogeneity between studies, inferences for current day case practice should be made with caution.
Premedication before day surgery. A double-blind comparison of diazepam and placebo.
Premedication with diazepam 0.25 mg kg-1 by mouth was compared with placebo in a double-blind trial in patients undergoing day-case surgery under general anaesthesia. Diazepam decreased significantly preoperative discomfort and apprehension. The patients were discharged on time regardless of the type of premedication, and complaints at the time of discharge and on the following day could be related only to the length of anaesthesia and not to the type of premedication. Premedication given early in the morning remained effective for up to 6 h.