Pre-operative forced-air warming as a method of anxiolysis

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that pre-operative forced-air warming is as effective for anxiolysis as intravenous midazolam, using a blinded, placebo controlled factorial design. One hundred and twenty patients were randomly assigned to cotton blanket and saline injection (n = 30), forced-air warmer and saline injection (n = 30), midazolam 30 μg.kg-1 and cotton blanket (n = 30), and forced-air warmer and midazolam 30 μg.kg-1 (n = 30). Patients completed visual analogue scales for anxiety and thermal comfort, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, at baseline and after 20 min. The estimated effect of midazolam on visual analogue scores for anxiety was -10 (95% CI -3 to -18; p = 0.007) and on state..