Preoperative anxiety is a subjective and painful experience and may have adverse
psychological consequences and complicate anesthetic management. The aim of the study is to
show the effect of premedication by midazolam on preoperative anxiety assessed by a visual
analog scale and by measuring salivary cortisol levels. This study was a monocentric,
prospective, blind randomized placebo controlled clinical study. Sixty patients, aged 18 to
79 years, to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation must
be enrolled and randomized to receive midazolam (0.02mg/kg) or placebo. The primary outcome
is the reduction in anxiety assessed by a visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes are the
reduction in salivary cortisol levels, the overall level of anxiety and the evaluation of
respiratory and hemodynamic adverse effects of midazolam.