Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Remimazolam is a novel ultrashort-acting sedative and anesthetic drug. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated its sedative effect, however, research has yet to be conducted to explore the safety of remimazolam in deep sedation flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) in elderly...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pingping Luo, Jimin Wu, Haiyan Lan, Qiaomin Xu, Gongchen Duan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Anesthesiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03117-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850272872955641856
author Pingping Luo
Jimin Wu
Haiyan Lan
Qiaomin Xu
Gongchen Duan
author_facet Pingping Luo
Jimin Wu
Haiyan Lan
Qiaomin Xu
Gongchen Duan
author_sort Pingping Luo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Remimazolam is a novel ultrashort-acting sedative and anesthetic drug. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated its sedative effect, however, research has yet to be conducted to explore the safety of remimazolam in deep sedation flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) in elderly patients. Methods Sixty-six elderly patients who underwent FFB were randomly assigned to either the remimazolam (Group R) or propofol (Group P) group. Initially, both groups received an intravenous injection of 10 µg/kg alfentanil. Subsequently, both groups were administered experimental drugs intravenously: (1) Group R received 0.2 mg/kg remimazolam, and (2) Group P received 1.5 mg/kg propofol. Throughout the FFB, patients were maintained in a state of deep sedation (modified observer’s assessment of alertness/sedation score ≤ 1) by titrating the experimental drugs as needed. The primary outcome measured was the incidence of hypoxemia during the FFB. Secondary outcomes included other safety outcomes, effectiveness outcomes, and procedural characteristics. Results Group R had a lower incidence of hypoxemia compared to Group P (9.1% vs. 45.5%) (RR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.06–0.63], P = 0.001). The Minimum SpO2 and minimum MAP in Group R was higher than in Group P (93.1 ± 3.8 vs. 89.0 ± 6.7, P = 0.004) (82.8 ± 12.4 vs. 72.8 ± 14.1, P = 0.003); ΔMAP and ΔHR in Group R was lower than in Group P (15.9 ± 5.2 vs. 28.8 ± 12.4, P < 0.001), (14.9 ± 3.2 vs. 17.8 ± 4.2, P = 0.003); the incidence of hypotension in Group R was lower than in Group P (9.1% vs. 30.3%, P = 0.030); the incidence of injection pain in Group R was lower than in Group P (0% vs. 27.3%, P = 0.001). Conclusions During the maintenance of elderly patients under deep sedation with FFB, remimazolam exhibited superior safety than propofol, particularly in terms of respiratory depression and cardiovascular inhibition. Trial registration The trial was registered, before patient enrollment, in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ) (clinical trial number: ChiCTR2400083383; Principal Investigator: Gongchen Duan; date of registration: 23 April 2024).
format Article
id doaj-art-764d2ee3bc184ae3bf4de285da580fa5
institution OA Journals
issn 1471-2253
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Anesthesiology
spelling doaj-art-764d2ee3bc184ae3bf4de285da580fa52025-08-20T01:51:39ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532025-05-012511710.1186/s12871-025-03117-8Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trialPingping Luo0Jimin Wu1Haiyan Lan2Qiaomin Xu3Gongchen Duan4Department of Medical Oncology, Lishui People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Lishui People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Lishui People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Lishui People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui HospitalDepartment of Anesthesiology, Lishui People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Wenzhou Medical University Lishui HospitalAbstract Background Remimazolam is a novel ultrashort-acting sedative and anesthetic drug. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated its sedative effect, however, research has yet to be conducted to explore the safety of remimazolam in deep sedation flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) in elderly patients. Methods Sixty-six elderly patients who underwent FFB were randomly assigned to either the remimazolam (Group R) or propofol (Group P) group. Initially, both groups received an intravenous injection of 10 µg/kg alfentanil. Subsequently, both groups were administered experimental drugs intravenously: (1) Group R received 0.2 mg/kg remimazolam, and (2) Group P received 1.5 mg/kg propofol. Throughout the FFB, patients were maintained in a state of deep sedation (modified observer’s assessment of alertness/sedation score ≤ 1) by titrating the experimental drugs as needed. The primary outcome measured was the incidence of hypoxemia during the FFB. Secondary outcomes included other safety outcomes, effectiveness outcomes, and procedural characteristics. Results Group R had a lower incidence of hypoxemia compared to Group P (9.1% vs. 45.5%) (RR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.06–0.63], P = 0.001). The Minimum SpO2 and minimum MAP in Group R was higher than in Group P (93.1 ± 3.8 vs. 89.0 ± 6.7, P = 0.004) (82.8 ± 12.4 vs. 72.8 ± 14.1, P = 0.003); ΔMAP and ΔHR in Group R was lower than in Group P (15.9 ± 5.2 vs. 28.8 ± 12.4, P < 0.001), (14.9 ± 3.2 vs. 17.8 ± 4.2, P = 0.003); the incidence of hypotension in Group R was lower than in Group P (9.1% vs. 30.3%, P = 0.030); the incidence of injection pain in Group R was lower than in Group P (0% vs. 27.3%, P = 0.001). Conclusions During the maintenance of elderly patients under deep sedation with FFB, remimazolam exhibited superior safety than propofol, particularly in terms of respiratory depression and cardiovascular inhibition. Trial registration The trial was registered, before patient enrollment, in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ) (clinical trial number: ChiCTR2400083383; Principal Investigator: Gongchen Duan; date of registration: 23 April 2024).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03117-8RemimazolamFlexible fiberoptic bronchoscopyDeep sedationElderly patients
spellingShingle Pingping Luo
Jimin Wu
Haiyan Lan
Qiaomin Xu
Gongchen Duan
Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
BMC Anesthesiology
Remimazolam
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy
Deep sedation
Elderly patients
title Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
title_full Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
title_short Safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
title_sort safety of remimazolam in deep sedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy a prospective randomized controlled trial
topic Remimazolam
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy
Deep sedation
Elderly patients
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03117-8
work_keys_str_mv AT pingpingluo safetyofremimazolamindeepsedationduringflexiblefiberopticbronchoscopyaprospectiverandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT jiminwu safetyofremimazolamindeepsedationduringflexiblefiberopticbronchoscopyaprospectiverandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT haiyanlan safetyofremimazolamindeepsedationduringflexiblefiberopticbronchoscopyaprospectiverandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT qiaominxu safetyofremimazolamindeepsedationduringflexiblefiberopticbronchoscopyaprospectiverandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT gongchenduan safetyofremimazolamindeepsedationduringflexiblefiberopticbronchoscopyaprospectiverandomizedcontrolledtrial