Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 10/11/2008

Question
My husband had a prostate seed implant several years ago and before they wheeled him out of the room he was waiting in, the nurse came in and put a shot into his I.V. Then, they wheeled him out and down the hall and into the operating room. My husband told me later that he can remember being wheeled down the hall, but he doesn't remember being wheeled into the operating room. About three weeks later, we went and picked up his hospital report to see what kind of anesthesia was used on him, but the report did not contain this information.  Do you know what the shot the nurse put into his I.V. might have been? We knew that he would be given general anesthesia because his radiation oncologist had told us he would be asleep during the surgery. Also, do you know what kind of general anesthesia he might have been given?

Answer
Hi Lea
I can only guess here but if they gave him a shot in the arm before he was taken in then it could only be some sedative type agent and even then it must have been a small dose as he remembers being wheeled down the corridor. The most likely agent would be midazolam as this is often used in small amounnts by some people at the start of an anaesthetic to reduce the dose of other agents used.
Sorry after that I would be totally guessing what they might have used!
Hope this helps
Dr Ian Jackson