Diazepam as an adjunct to bronchoscopy.

A controlled double-blind study of 50 patients undergoing bronchoscopy under topical anesthesia was done to determine the effectiveness of diazepam (Valium) premedicationas compared to meperidine. The majority of the patients in both groupswere able to relax and cooperate during the procedure. Cooperativeness was significantly better in the meperidine group. Anxiety and restlessnesswere affectedsimilarly by the two drugs. Diazepam-treated patients were more often drowsy and confusedthan were the mependine-treated patients. The procedure was easy to perform in over half the patients in both groups. Six (25 percent) of the diazepam-treatedpatients had no recall of the procedure 24 hours later as compared to two (8 percent) of the meperidine-treated patients. No serious complicationsrelated to either drug were noted. This study showsthat diazepam as premedicadonfor bronchoscopyis as effective as meperidine for producing relaxation and relieving anxiety but somewhat less effective for promoting cooperation. It can produce amnesia for the event in a significant number of patients.