Safety and efficacy of remimazolam besylate in patients undergoing colonoscopy: A multicentre, single-blind, randomized, controlled, phase Ⅲ trial

ED50 of remimazolam combined with different doses butorphanol for first trimester artificial abortion

Introduction

Remimazolam (RMZ) is a novel intravenous sedative drug of ultra-short benzodiazepine. The optimal dose of RMZ plus butorphanol for sedation during first trimester artificial abortion is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the median effective dose (ED50) of RMZ combined with different doses of butorphanol on the sedative effect for first-trimester artificial abortion.

Methods

Sixty-one female patients were randomly assigned to Group B10 (31 patients) and Group B15 (30 patients). RMZ was administered 5 min after IV butorphanol at doses of 10 μg/kg (Group B10) and 15 μg/kg (Group B15). Cervical dilatation at the time of using a cervical dilating rod, if the patient has body movement and affects the gynecologist's operation, we define it as "Ineffective." Therefore, the dose of RMZ was increased in the next patient. Otherwise, it was defined as "Effective," and the dose of RMZ was reduced in the next patient. According to the pre-experiment, the first dose of RMZ in the first patient was 0.35 mg/kg, and the adjacent geometric dose ratio was 0.9. The centered isotonic regression was performed to determine the ED50 of RMZ. The total RMZ dose administered, recovery time, and anesthesia-related adverse events were all recorded.

Results

The ED50 (90% CI) of RMZ was 0.263 (0.215-0.310) mg/kg in Group B10, and 0.224 (0.191-0.261) mg/kg in Group B15, respectively. The recovery time in Group B10 was significantly shorter than in Group B15 (9.8 ± 2.3 vs. 12.5 ± 3.6 min, p ≤ 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of all anesthesia-related adverse events between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The ED50 of RMZ combined with a 10 μg/kg or 15 μg/kg dose of butorphanol was 0.263 and 0.224 mg/kg during painless first trimester artificial abortion. However, RMZ combined with a 10 μg/kg dose of butorphanol seems to have a shorter recovery time.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=166623.

The Safety and Efficacy of Remimazolam Compared to Dexmedetomidine for Awake Tracheal Intubation by Flexible Bronchoscopy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

Background

Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative that has the potential to be an alternative for procedural sedation due to its rapid sedation and recovery, no accumulation effect, stable hemodynamics, minimal respiratory depression, anterograde amnesia effect, and specific antagonist. Here, we aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of remimazolam with dexmedetomidine for awake tracheal intubation by flexible bronchoscopy (ATI-FB).

Methods

Ninety patients scheduled for ATI-FB were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of 30 cases: dexmedetomidine 0.6 µg/kg + sufentanil (group DS), remimazolam 0.073 mg/kg + sufentanil (group R1S), or remimazolam 0.093 mg/kg + sufentanil (group R2S). The primary outcome was the success rate of sedation. Secondary outcomes were MOAA/S scores, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, intubation conditions, intubation time, tracheal intubation amnesia, and adverse events.

Results

The success rates of sedation in groups R2S and DS were higher than that in group R1S (93.3%, 86.7%, respectively, vs 58.6%; P = 0.002), and intubation conditions were better than those in group R1S (P < 0.05). Group R2S had shorter intubation times than groups R1S and DS (P = 0.003), and a higher incidence of tracheal intubation amnesia than group DS (P = 0.006). No patient in the three groups developed hypoxemia or hypotension, and there were no significant differences in oligopnea, PetCO2, or bradycardia (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, both DS and R2S had higher success rates of sedation, better intubation conditions, and minor respiratory depression, but R2S, with its shorter intubation time, higher incidence of anterograde amnesia, and ability to be antagonized by specific antagonists, may be a good alternative sedation regimen for patients undergoing ATI-FB.

Effect of remimazolam on electroencephalogram burst suppression in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery: Protocol for a randomized controlled noninferiority trial

Background

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication following cardiac surgery and increases postoperative morbidity and mortality. Intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) burst suppression suggests excessively deep anesthesia and predicts POD. Use of remimazolam provides a stable hemodynamic status and an appropriate depth of anesthesia. We aim to assess remimazolam administered for anesthesia and sedation in elderly patients having cardiac surgery.

Methods

This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with noninferiority design. A total of 260 elderly patients aged equal to or greater than 60 years undergoing cardiac surgery will be randomly allocated to receive remimazolam or propofol (1:1) for general anesthesia and postoperative sedation until extubation. The primary outcome is the cumulative time with EEG burst suppression which is obtained from the SedLine system. The noninferiority margin is 2.0 min. The secondary outcomes include the POD occurrence within the first 5 days postoperatively and the duration of perioperative hypotension.

Discussion

This noninferiority trial is the first to evaluate the effect of perioperative remimazolam administration on EEG burst suppression, POD occurrence, and duration of hypotension in elderly patients who undergo cardiac surgery.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200056353).

Effect of pre-use of Dexmedetomidine on the effective inhibitory dose of remimazolam tosilate on positive cardiovascular response in double-lumen endobronchial intubation: a clinical study

BACKGROUND

Herein, the effect of pre-use of Dexmedetomidine(Dex) on the half-effective dose (ED50) and 95%-effective dose (ED95) of Remimazolam tosilate(RT) in inhibiting the positive cardiovascular response(CR) which means blood pressure or heart rate rises above a critical threshold induced by double-lumen bronchial intubation was evaluated.

METHODS

Patients who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery were divided into groups A (0), B (0.5 µg/kg), and C (1 µg/kg) based on different Dex doses. Group A included subgroups comprising young (A-Y) and elderly (A-O) patients. Neither groups B nor C included elderly patients due of the sedative effect of Dex. Based on the previous subject's CR, the dose of RT was increased or decreased in the next patient using the sequential method. This trial would be terminated when the seventh crossover occurred, at which point the sample size met the stable estimate of the target dose. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored throughout the trial, and sedation was assessed using the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scale. HR and MAP were recorded at baseline (T1), the end of Dex (T2), and the end of RT (T3), the maximum HR and MAP were recorded within 3 min of intubation from beginning to end (T4). There was a positive CR when the T4 levels rose above 15% of the baseline. The ED50/ED95 and corresponding confidence interval were calculated using probability regression.

RESULTS

In total, 114 patients completed the trial. Without the use of Dex, the ED50/ED95 of TR inhibiting the positive CR caused by double-lumen bronchial intubation was 0.198/0.227 and 0.155/0.181 mg/kg in groups A-Y and A-O, respectively. The changes in vital signs from T1 to T3 were similar in the subgroups, indicating that the elderly patients were more sensitive to the dose of RT. The ED50/ED95 of RT inhibiting the positive CR caused by double-lumen endobronchial intubation was 0.122/0.150 and 0.068/0.084 mg/kg in groups B and C, respectively. And, the fluctuation of blood pressure from T3 to T4 was reduced by using Dex. RT was 100% effective in sedation with no significant inhibition of circulation. Apart from one case of hypotension occurred in group A-Y, two cases of low HR in group B, and one case of low HR in group C, no other adverse events were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal dose of RT to inhibit positive CR induced by double-lumen bronchial intubation in elderly patients was 0.18 mg/kg and 0.23 mg/kg in younger patients. When the pre-use dose of Dex was 0.5 µg/kg, the optimal dose to inhibit positive CR of RT was 0.15 mg/kg. And, when the pre-use dose of Dex was 1 µg/kg, the optimal dose of RT was 0.9 mg/kg.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05631028.

Remimazolam and serious adverse events: A scoping review

Remimazolam is anticipated to be an interesting anaesthetic and sedative. It combines the pharmacodynamic properties of midazolam with pharmacokinetic properties similar to remifentanil. However, worrisome case reports of anaphylaxis, delayed emergence and re-sedation have emerged recently and necessitate further investigation.PubMed (including MEDLINE) and EMBASE were searched for all studies reporting serious adverse events where remimazolam was administered for sedation or anaesthesia.Thirty-six case reports and 73 trials were identified, involving a total of 6740 patients who received remimazolam. Hypotension was reported in 911 cases, delayed emergence in 68 cases, anaphylaxis in 10 cases and re-sedation in 8 cases. The incidence of hypotension seems to be lower compared with other anaesthetics, even in high-risk patients.Delayed emergence might be related to the metabolism of remimazolam through carboxylesterase 1 (CES1), a tissue esterase predominant in the liver. There is significant interindividual variation, and it is inhibited by flavonoids, fatty acids and alcohol. Individual benzodiazepine sensitivity has also been reported. A higher BMI, older age and low plasma albumin concentration are risk factors for delayed emergence. Anaphylaxis might be related to a non-IgE-mediated effect of the excipient dextran-40 or a partially IgE-mediated reaction to remimazolam itself. Resedation has been reported after flumazenil reversal and is explained by the specific pharmacokinetic properties of flumazenil and remimazolam. Reversal by flumazenil should be reserved for and used carefully in patients with delayed emergence.

VISUAL ABSTRACT

http://links.lww.com/EJA/A864 .

Efficacy and safety of remimazolam besilate for sedation in outpatients undergoing impacted third molar extraction: a prospective exploratory study

BACKGROUND

Dental treatments often cause anxiety, fear, and stress in patients. Intravenous sedation is widely used to alleviate these concerns, and various agents are employed for sedation. However, it is important to find safer and more effective sedation agents, considering the adverse effects associated with current agents. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam besilate (hereinafter called "remimazolam") and to determine the optimal dosages for sedation in outpatients undergoing dental procedures.

METHODS

Thirty-one outpatients aged 18-65 years scheduled for impacted third molar extraction were included in the study. Remimazolam was administered as a single dose of 0.05 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion at a rate of 0.35 mg/kg/h, with the infusion rate adjusted to maintain a sedation level at a Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) score of 2-4. The primary endpoint was the sedation success rate with remimazolam monotherapy, and the secondary endpoints included induction time, recovery time, time until discharge, remimazolam dose, respiratory and circulatory dynamics, and frequency of adverse events.

RESULTS

The sedation success rate with remimazolam monotherapy was 100%. The remimazolam induction dose was 0.08 (0.07-0.09) mg/kg, and the anesthesia induction time was 3.2 (2.6-3.9) min. The mean infusion rate of remimazolam during the procedure was 0.40 (0.38-0.42) mg/kg/h. The time from the end of remimazolam administration to awakening was 8.0 (6.7-9.3) min, and the time from the end of remimazolam administration to discharge was 14.0 (12.5-15.5) min. There were no significant respiratory or circulatory effects requiring intervention during sedation.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous intravenous administration of remimazolam can achieve optimal sedation levels without significantly affecting respiratory or circulatory dynamics. The study also provided guidance on the appropriate dosage of remimazolam for achieving moderate sedation during dental procedures. Additionally, the study findings suggest that electroencephalogram monitoring can be a reliable indicator of the level of sedation during dental procedural sedation with remimazolam.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (No. jRCTs061220052) on 30/08/2022.

The Efficacy and Safety of Remimazolam Besylate Combined with Esketamine for Outpatient Colonoscopy: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Purpose

Evaluate the efficacy and safety of remimazolam besylate combined with esketamine for outpatient colonoscopy.

Patients and methods

A total of 150 outpatients undergoing colonoscopy were randomized into two groups. A MOAA/S score ≤3 was maintained. The primary outcome was the rate of successful colonoscopy completion. Time indicators, hemodynamic parameters, the consumption of lidocaine, esketamine, propofol and remimazolam besylate, MOAA/S scores and bispectral index (BIS) values, the lowest SpO2, body movement, the use of rescue medication, endoscopist and patient satisfaction, recall of the procedure, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), fatigue level and adverse events were recorded.

Results

Procedure completion was equivalent between groups (P > 0.05). Both induction and awakening times were significantly shorter in the P group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in colonoscopy time and discharge time (P > 0.05). The lowest SpO2 was significantly lower in the P group, while the level of fatigue was higher (P < 0.05). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the R group (P < 0.05). Endoscopist satisfaction was significantly higher in the P group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure between groups except at T5 and T6 (P > 0.05). Both HR and RR were significantly lower in the P group from T3 to T5 (P < 0.05). BIS values were significantly lower in the P group from T3 to T5, while MOAA/S was significantly lower in the P group at T3 and T4 (P < 0.05). Pain on injection was significantly higher in the P group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Remimazolam besylate has a similar efficacy to propofol when combined with subanesthetic doses of esketamine during outpatient colonoscopy. Remimazolam besylate combined with esketamine resulted in less injection pain and more stable hemodynamics, although it prolonged induction and awakening time.

Remimazolam for Pediatric Procedural Sedation: Results of an Institutional Pilot Program

Remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative, was first approved in 2020 in Japan as a general anesthetic for adults. However, its utilization in pediatric settings remains unexplored and, to date, is confined to isolated case reports due to a lack of specific pediatric labeling. The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the safety profile of remimazolam when used for procedural sedation in children following dosages established in adult protocols. Additional parameters, including dosage per kg of body weight, duration of the procedure, efficacy (measured as successful completion of the procedure), the necessity for supplemental medications, and changes in physiological parameters, such as the heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), were assessed. Our study encompassed 48 children with an average age of 7.0 years. The objective Tracking and Reporting Outcomes of Procedural Sedation tool indicated no adverse events. In our cohort, propofol and ketamine were used as adjunctive treatments in 8 and 39 patients, respectively, with successful completion of all procedures. Notable hemodynamic variability was observed, with 88.4% of patients experiencing a ≥20% change (increase or decrease) and 62.8% experiencing a ≥30% change in MAP. Additionally, a ≥20% change in HR was observed in 54.3% of patients, and a ≥30% change was observed in 34.8% of patients. Nevertheless, none of the patients required pharmacological intervention to manage these hemodynamic fluctuations. Our findings suggest that remimazolam, when supplemented with propofol or ketamine, could offer a safe and effective pathway for administering procedural sedation in pediatric populations.

Up-to-date literature review and issues of sedation during digestive endoscopy

Sedation is common during digestive endoscopy to provide comfort and pain relief for patients. However, the use of sedation in endoscopy also poses potential risks, and recent issues have been raised regarding its safety and administration. This literature review paper will discuss the most recent developments in the field of sedation in digestive endoscopy, including the adverse events that might be associated with sedation and how to manage it, the legal issues associated with administration, the impact of COVID-19 on sedation practices, and sedation in special situations. It will also touch upon the current guidelines and recommendations for sedation, including the importance of patient selection and monitoring and the need for training and certification for endoscopists administering sedation. The review will also analyse studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of various sedation techniques, including propofol, midazolam, and others. It will examine the benefits and drawbacks of these agents.

Effects of Remimazolam and Propofol on Emergence Agitation in Elderly Patients Undergoing Hip Replacement: A Clinical, Randomized, Controlled Study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of remimazolam and propofol on emergence agitation (EA) in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

Methods

A total of 60 elderly patients undergoing hip replacement were recruited for this prospective, single-center, clinical, randomized, controlled study from February to April 2023. They were randomly assigned to two groups: the remimazolam group (group R) and the propofol group (group P). In group R, remimazolam was administered intravenously during the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, In group P, propofol was used during the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. The incidence of EA was recorded as the primary indicator. Secondary indicators included heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) values at the following moments: 5 min prior to anesthetic induction (T0), 1 min following induction (T1), 5 min after the laryngeal mask was inserted (T2), the beginning of surgery (T3), the moment the laryngeal mask was removed (T4), and the overall incidence of postoperative adverse events (bleeding or splitting of the surgical incision, removal of the intravenous infusion needle, falling off the bed, hypoxemia, and hypertension).

Results

The incidence of EA was significantly lower in group R than in group P (10% vs 33%, P < 0.05). At T1, T2, and T3, the HR and MAP values of group R were higher than those of group P (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative adverse events was significantly lower in group R than in group P (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Remimazolam further reduced the incidence of emergence agitation when compared to propofol during geriatric hip replacement. Moreover, it has a minor hemodynamic effect and lower the incidence of postoperative adverse events.