Monoamine metabolite and catecholamine measurements in cerebrospinal fluid in determining the quality of the pre-operative night's sleep

Abstract

Temazepam 20 mg (n = 18), midazolam 15 mg (n = 14), placebo (n = 15) or no medication (n = 20) were given orally as pre-operative hypnotic in healthy patients operated on under spinal analgesia. The quality of the pre-operative night's sleep assessed subjectively was significantly better in patients receiving temazepam (P = < 0.05) and midazolam (P = < 0.05) compared with those receiving no drug. The concentrations of cortisol and monoamine neurotransmitters or their metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid were of no value in monitoring the quality of the pre-operative night's sleep.