Preoperative sedatives
The use of sedatives before an operation serves to relieve the patient’s anxiety and at the same time promotes his or her responsiveness and cooperation. For anxious or agitated patients, a light sedative can be administered the day before the operation so that the night before the operation is still calm. Then a sedative is usually administered before the operation to reduce stress and anxiety.
The premedication also makes it easier for the anaesthetist to induce anaesthesia and fewer painkillers are needed. A drug from the benzodiazepine family, known as Dormicum®, is often used. This is a short-acting benzodiazepine which relaxes and calms the patient. Today, benzodiazepines are used almost exclusively for oral pre-medication.
