My Wife recently had Laparoscope surgery. The surgery lasted 1 hour. Is it
normal to use several diferent anesthesia agents ?
Midazolam,propofol, mivacurium,fentanyl citrate, and hydroxzine ??

I also read that Midazolam impairs  memory. Is that a side effect or is
that what it is used for. If so Why and for how long ??

Joe Nemec

Yes, it is normal to use several agents.  Generally three types are used.
One to as a neuromuscular blocker, one as a hypnotic, and one as a
sedative.

  >> My Wife recently had Laparoscope surgery. The surgery lasted 1 hour. Is it
  >> normal to use several diferent anesthesia agents ?
  >> Midazolam,propofol, mivacurium,fentanyl citrate, and hydroxzine ??
  >> I also read that Midazolam impairs  memory. Is that a side effect or is
  >> that what it is used for. If so Why and for how long ??
  >
  >First, I believe that the first drug you are refering to is Midalazapam
  >which I am sure that I didn't spell right.  The trade name is versed.  

Midazolam was correct in the first place.

  >General anesthesia requires several agents, each perforiming a specific
  >function.  The versed is a hypnotic with amnesic properties that are very
  >important because you don't want to remember the procedures.

The amnesic properties are primarily useful in situations where you want the
person to be _awake_ but sedated during the procedure.  The impairment of
memory is for the events just before and during the procedure.

   >Propofol sounds like an anesthetic gas althoug it doesn't ring a bell.

It's a rapid and short-acting injected anesthetic.

--
Steve Dyer

First, I believe that the first drug you are refering to is Midalazapam
which I am sure that I didn't spell right.  The trade name is versed.  
General anesthesia requires several agents, each perforiming a specific
function.  The versed is a hypnotic with amnesic properties that are very
important because you don't want to remember the procedures.  Propofol
sounds like an anesthetic gas althoug it doesn't ring a bell.  The
mivacurium also is not familiar to me, but it sounds like a paralytic
agent line pancuronium bromide.  It may actually be the paralytic called
Norcuron.  Fentanyl is a potent narcotic which is, I believe, a synthetic
opiate.  

Hope that this helps.  I've worked in 5 hospitals and always tell
patients that they have to ask the staff(doctors/nurses...) what is being
done to them.  Remember that YOU are the patient and the things being
done are being done to YOU.  

--
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Rick Huebner                          phone:(912) 871-3457
Georgia Southern University           BBS:  (912) 871-3885