Efficacy and safety of remimazolam in bronchoscopic sedation:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Remimazolam is a new benzodiazepine used for procedural sedation and general anesthesia.Several studies have used remimazolam for bendable bronchoscopy.AIM To assess the safety and efficacy of remimazolam for sedation in patients undergoing bendable bronchoscopy by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(RCTs).METHODS We searched the EMBASE,PubMed,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science databases for RCTs on bendable bronchoscopic procedural sedation with remimazolam vs conventional sedatives(CS).RESULTS Five studies with 1080 cases were included.Remimazolam had the same sedation success rate compared with CS[relative risk(RR):1.35,95%CI:0.60-3.05,P=0.474,I2=99.6%].However,remimazolam was associated with a lower incidence of hypotension(RR:0.61;95%CI:0.40-0.95,P=0.027;I2=65.1%)and a lower incidence of respiratory depression(RR:0.50,95%CI:0.33-0.77,P=0.002,I2=42.3%).A subgroup analysis showed a higher success rate of sedation with remimazolam than midazolam(RR:2.45,95%CI:1.76-3.42,P<0.001).Compared with propofol,the incidence of hypotension(RR:0.45,95%CI:0.32-0.64,P<0.001,I2=0.0%),respiratory depression(RR:0.48,95%CI:0.30-0.76,P=0.002,I2=78.4%),hypoxemia(RR:0.36,95%CI:0.15-0.87,P=0.023),and injection pain(RR:0.04,95%CI:0.01-0.28,P=0.001)were lower.CONCLUSION Remimazolam is safe and effective during bronchoscopy.The sedation success rate was similar to that in the CS group.However,remimazolam has a higher safety profile,with fewer inhibitory effects on respiration and circulation.

Postoperative Sedation Options in ICU

This paper examines sedation options in ICU postoperative care. It highlights the necessity of sedation for patients’ physical and mental comfort, safety, and reduction of delirium. The article advocates light sedation, primarily with non-benzodiazepines like propofol or dexmedetomidine, to improve outcomes. It introduces novel sedatives like ciprofol and remimazolam, suggesting they may be future alternatives in ICU sedation, although more research is needed.

Propofol sedation in routine endoscopy:A case series comparing target controlled infusion vs manually controlled bolus concept

BACKGROUND Many studies have addressed safety and effectiveness of non-anaesthesiologist propofol sedation(NAPS)for gastrointestinal(GI)endoscopy Target controlled infusion(TCI)is claimed to provide an optimal sedation regimen by avoiding under-or oversedation.AIM To assess safety and performance of propofol TCI sedation in comparison with nurse-administered bolus-sedation.METHODS Fouty-five patients undergoing endoscopy under TCI propofol sedation were prospectively included from November 2016 to May 2017 and compared to 87 patients retrospectively included that underwent endoscopy with NAPS.Patients were matched for age and endoscopic procedure.We recorded time of sedation and endoscopy,dosage of medication and adverse events.RESULTS There was a significant reduction in dose per time of propofol administered in the TCI group,compared to the NAPS group(8.2±2.7 mg/min vs 9.3±3.4 mg/min;P=0.046).The time needed to provide adequate sedation levels was slightly but significantly lower in the control group(5.3±2.7 min vs 7.7±3.3 min;P<0.001),nonetheless the total endoscopy time was similar in both groups.No differences between TCI and bolus-sedation was observed for mean total-dosage of propofol rate as well as adverse events.CONCLUSION This study indicates that sedation using TCI for GI endoscopy reduces the dose of propofol necessary per minute of endoscopy.This may translate into less adverse events.However,further and randomized trials need to confirm this trend.

Between Euthanasia and Dysthanasia: The Ethical Issue of Sedation in the Terminal Phase of Illness

Background: Deep sedation, euthanasia and therapeutic relentlessness lead us today to rethink the paradigm of life and the contingency of human existence. Between therapeutic relentlessness, the unreasonable care which uses heavy therapeutic means which are often disproportionate to the expected benefit, namely keeping alive a patient whose condition is considered medically hopeless;and euthanasia which would precipitate the process of death would be sedation in the terminal phase of the illness. Should doctors and families of comatose patients decide the “life” and “death” of their patients? For anti-euthanasia associations, doctors, relatives of terminally ill patients and the State itself, if they accept the principle of euthanasia, they are “murderers”, while for pro-euthanasists, the dignity of the human being would recommend that the days of patients in situations considered critical be shortened, to avoid unnecessary suffering and humiliation. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to identify relevant articles relating to euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation in the terminal phase of illness. The search was conducted in French or English in three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Objectives: The objectives of this article are: 1) define the terminologies and concepts of palliative sedation, deep sedation, deep and continuous sedation until death, euthanasia and dysthanasia;2) present aspects of the meaning of life and the human person in African cultures;and 3) propose an ethical reflection on the value of life. Results: After precisely defining the concepts of euthanasia, dysthanasia and sedation, this research presented the African anthropological and ethical approach to the mysteries of life and death. Conclusion: With this in mind, the golden rule of medicine always remains as such “Primum non nocere”.

Brain protective effect of dexmedetomidine vs propofol for sedation during prolonged mechanical ventilation in non-brain injured patients

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine and propofol are two sedatives used for long-term sedation.It remains unclear whether dexmedetomidine provides superior cerebral protection for patients undergoing long-term mechanical ventilation.AIM To compare the neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine and propofol for sedation during prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients without brain injury.METHODS Patients who underwent mechanical ventilation for>72 h were randomly assigned to receive sedation with dexmedetomidine or propofol.The Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale(RASS)was used to evaluate sedation effects,with a target range of-3 to 0.The primary outcomes were serum levels of S100-βand neuron-specific enolase(NSE)every 24 h.The secondary outcomes were remifentanil dosage,the proportion of patients requiring rescue sedation,and the time and frequency of RASS scores within the target range.RESULTS A total of 52 and 63 patients were allocated to the dexmedetomidine group and propofol group,respectively.Baseline data were comparable between groups.No significant differences were identified between groups within the median duration of study drug infusion[52.0(IQR:36.0-73.5)h vs 53.0(IQR:37.0-72.0)h,P=0.958],the median dose of remifentanil[4.5(IQR:4.0-5.0)μg/kg/h vs 4.6(IQR:4.0-5.0)μg/kg/h,P=0.395],the median percentage of time in the target RASS range without rescue sedation[85.6%(IQR:65.8%-96.6%)vs 86.7%(IQR:72.3%-95.3),P=0.592],and the median frequency within the target RASS range without rescue sedation[72.2%(60.8%-91.7%)vs 73.3%(60.0%-100.0%),P=0.880].The proportion of patients in the dexmedetomidine group who required rescue sedation was higher than in the propofol group with statistical significance(69.2%vs 50.8%,P=0.045).Serum S100-βand NSE levels in the propofol group were higher than in the dexmedetomidine group with statistical significance during the first six and five days of mechanical ventilation,respectively(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine demonstrated stronger protective effects on the brain compared to propofol for long-term mechanical ventilation in patients without brain injury.

Remimazolam for sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy:A comprehensive review

Worldwide,a majority of routine endoscopic procedures are performed under some form of sedation to maximize patient comfort.Propofol,benzodiazepines and opioids continue to be widely used.However,in recent years,Remimazolam is gaining immense popularity for procedural sedation in gastrointestinal(GI)endoscopy.It is an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine sedative which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July 2020 for use in procedural sedation.Remimazolam has shown a favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile in terms of its non-specific metabolism by tissue esterase,volume of distribution,total body clearance,and negligible drug-drug interactions.It also has satisfactory efficacy and has achieved high rates of successful sedation in GI endoscopy.Furthermore,studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of Remimazolam is non-inferior to Propofol,which is currently a gold standard for procedural sedation in most parts of the world.However,the use of Propofol is associated with hemodynamic instability and respiratory depression.In contrast,Remimazolam has lower incidence of these adverse effects intra-procedurally and hence,may provide a safer alternative to Propofol in procedural sedation.In this comprehensive narrative review,highlight the pharmacologic characteristics,efficacy,and safety of Remimazolam for procedural sedation.We also discuss the potential of Remimazolam as a suitable alternative and how it can shape the future of procedural sedation in gastroenterology.

Sedation reversal trends at outpatient ambulatory endoscopic center vs in-hospital ambulatory procedure center using a triage protocol

BACKGROUND Routine outpatient endoscopy is performed across a variety of outpatient settings.A known risk of performing endoscopy under moderate sedation is the potential for over-sedation,requiring the use of reversal agents.More needs to be reported on rates of reversal across different outpatient settings.Our academic tertiary care center utilizes a triage tool that directs higher-risk patients to the in-hospital ambulatory procedure center(APC)for their procedure.Here,we report data on outpatient sedation reversal rates for endoscopy performed at an inhospital APC vs at a free-standing ambulatory endoscopy digestive health center(AEC-DHC)following risk stratification with a triage tool.AIM To observe the effect of risk stratification using a triage tool on patient outcomes,primarily sedation reversal events.METHODS We observed all outpatient endoscopy procedures performed at AEC-DHC and APC from April 2013 to September 2019.Procedures were stratified to their respective sites using a triage tool.We evaluated each procedure for which sedation reversal with flumazenil and naloxone was recorded.Demographics and characteristics recorded include patient age,gender,body mass index(BMI),American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)classification,procedure type,and reason for sedation reversal.RESULTS There were 97366 endoscopic procedures performed at AEC-DHC and 22494 at the APC during the study period.Of these,17 patients at AEC-DHC and 9 at the APC underwent sedation reversals(0.017%vs 0.04%;P=0.06).Demographics recorded for those requiring reversal at AEC-DHC vs APC included mean age(53.5±21 vs 60.4±17.42 years;P=0.23),ASA class(1.66±0.48 vs 2.22±0.83;P=0.20),BMI(27.7±6.7 kg/m^(2) vs 23.7±4.03 kg/m^(2);P=0.06),and female gender(64.7%vs 22%;P=0.04).The mean doses of sedative agents and reversal drugs used at AEC-DHC vs APC were midazolam(5.9±1.7 mg vs 8.9±3.5 mg;P=0.01),fentanyl(147.1±49.9μg vs 188.9±74.1μg;P=0.10),flumazenil(0.3±0.18μg vs 0.17±0.17μg;P=0.13)and naloxone(0.32±0.10 mg vs 0.28±0.12 mg;P=0.35).Procedures at AEC-DHC requiring sedation reversal included colonoscopies(n=6),esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)(n=9)and EGD/colonoscopies(n=2),whereas APC procedures included EGDs(n=2),EGD with gastrostomy tube placement(n=1),endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(n=2)and endoscopic ultrasound's(n=4).The indications for sedation reversal at AEC-DHC included hypoxia(n=13;76%),excessive somnolence(n=3;18%),and hypotension(n=1;6%),whereas,at APC,these included hypoxia(n=7;78%)and hypotension(n=2;22%).No sedation-related deaths or long-term post-sedation reversal adverse outcomes occurred at either site.CONCLUSION Our study highlights the effectiveness of a triage tool used at our tertiary care hospital for risk stratification in minimizing sedation reversal events during outpatient endoscopy procedures.Using a triage tool for risk stratification,low rates of sedation reversal can be achieved in the ambulatory settings for EGD and colonoscopy.

Impact of Sedation Protocols on Elderly Patients Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation and Off-Line Weaning

The proportion of elderly patients in intensive care is increasing, and a significant proportion of them require mechanical ventilation. How to implement safe and effective mechanical ventilation for elderly patients, and when appropriate off-line is an important issue in the field of critical care medicine. Appropriate sedation can improve patient outcomes, but excessive sedation may lead to prolonged mechanical ventilation and increase the risk of complications. Elderly patients should be closely monitored and evaluated on an individual basis while offline, and the sedation regimen should be dynamically adjusted. This requires the healthcare team to consider the patient’s sedation needs, disease status, and pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drug to arrive at the best strategy. Although the current research has provided valuable insights and strategies for sedation and off-line management, there are still many problems to be further explored and solved.

Efficacy and safety of remimazolam-based sedation for intensive care unit patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:a cohort study

BACKGROUND:Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting sedative,but its safety and adverse events(AEs)in high-risk patients in the intensive care unit(ICU)setting remain unknown.METHODS:This was a single-center,retrospective study that compared remimazolam to propofol and midazolam in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.The primary outcome was the incidence of treatment-related AEs.The secondary outcomes were the time to extubation,the length of ICU stay,and the average cost of sedative per case.RESULTS:Of the 88 patients analyzed,47 were treated with remimazolam(mean dose,7.90±4.84mg),and 41 were treated with propofol(21.19±17.98 mg)or midazolam(3.08±2.17 mg).There was no statistically significant difference in the average duration of the endoscopic procedure(35.89±13.37 min vs.44.51±21.68 min,P=0.133)or the time to extubation(15.00±9.75 h vs.20.59±18.71 h,P=0.211)in the remimazolam group(group I)compared to the propofol or midazolam group(group II).ICU stays(5.40±2.93 d vs.4.63±3.31 d,P=0.072)and treatment-related AEs(48.61%vs.51.38%,P=0.056)were similar between groups.The average cost of sedative per case was significantly lower in the group I than in the group II(RMB 16.07±10.58 yuan vs.RMB 24.37±15.46 yuan,P=0.016).CONCLUSION:Remimazolam-based sedation was noninferior to the classic sedatives and had lower average cost per case,indicating that it may be used as a promising sedative for high-risk patients during endoscopic procedures in the ICU setting.

Sedation and analgesia in gastrointestinal endoscopy: What’s new?

Various types of sedation and analgesia technique have been used during gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.The best methods for analgesia and sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy are still debated.Providing an adequate regimen of sedation/analgesia might be considered an art,influencing several aspects of endoscopic procedures: the quality of the examination,the patient’s cooperation and the patient’s and physician’s satisfaction with the sedation.The properties of a model sedative agent for endoscopy would include rapid onset and offset of action,analgesic and anxiolytic effects,ease of titration to desired level of sedation,rapid recovery and an excellent safety prof ile.Therefore there is an impulse for development of new approaches to endoscopic sedation.This article provides an update on the methods of sedation today available and future directions in endoscopic sedation.

Safety of applying midazolam-ketamine-propofol sedation combination under the supervision of endoscopy nurse with patient-controlled analgesia pump in colonoscopy

AIM To compare the results of midazolam-ketaminepropofol sedation performed by an endoscopy nurse and anaesthetist during colonoscopy in terms of patient satisfaction and safety.METHODS American Statistical Association(ASA) Ⅰ-Ⅱ 60 patients who underwent colonoscopy under sedation were randomly divided into two groups: sedation under the supervision of an anaesthetist(SSA) and sedation under the supervision of an endoscopy nurse(SSEN). Both groups were initially administered 1 mg midazolam, 50 mg ketamine and 30-50 mg propofol. Continuation of sedation was performed by the anaesthetist in the SSAgroup and the nurse with a patient-controlled analgesia(PCA) pump in the SSEN group. The total propofol consumption, procedure duration, recovery times, pain using the visual analogue scale(VAS) and satisfaction score of the patients, and side effects were recorded. In addition, the patients were asked whether they remembered the procedure and whether they would prefer the same method in the case of re-endoscopy.RESULTS Total propofol consumption in the SSEN group was significantly higher(P < 0.05) than that in the SSA group. When the groups were compared in terms of VAS score, recovery time, patient satisfaction, recall of the procedure, re-preference for the same method in case of re-endoscopy, and side effects, there were no significant differences(P > 0.05) between the two groups. No long-term required intervention side effects were observed in either group.CONCLUSION Colonoscopy sedation in ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients can be safely performed by an endoscopy nurse using PCA pump with the incidence of side effects and patient satisfaction levels similar to sedation under anaesthetist supervision.

Availability and quality of procedural sedation and analgesia in emergency departments without emergency physicians: A national survey in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: Emergency physicians have been successful in implementing procedural sedation and analgesia(PSA) to treat emergency department(ED) patients who need to undergo painful procedures.However, 25% of the EDs in the Netherlands are not staffed by emergency physicians.The aim of this study was to investigate PSA availability and quality in EDs without emergency physicians.METHODS: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study amongst ED nurses and physicians in all 13 EDs without emergency physicians in the Netherlands.Data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire.RESULTS: The response rate was 34.3%(148/432).Of the respondents, 84/148(56.8%) provided adult PSA and 30/148(20.3%) provided paediatric PSA.Main reasons for not providing PSA were insufficient numbers of trained staff to support PSA in the ED and insufficient training and exposure.The providers agreed significantly stronger when reflecting their PSA competencies in adults compared to paediatric patients.CONCLUSION: The key to improve pain management in the ED-setting may lay in investing in continuous training of ED health care professionals and/or acquiring professionals who are both qualified in PSA and available in the ED.

Safety and effectiveness of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia:A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesic method during labor.Butorphanol administered epidurally has been shown to be a successful analgesic method during labor.However,no comprehensive study has examined the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.AIM To assess butorphanol's safety and efficacy for epidural labor analgesia.METHODS The PubMed,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and Google Scholar databases will be searched from inception.Other types of literature,such as conference abstracts and references to pertinent reviews,will also be reviewed.We will include randomized controlled trials comparing butorphanol with other opioids combined with local anesthetics for epidural analgesia during labor.There will be no language restrictions.The primary outcomes will include the visual analog scale score for the first stage of labor,fetal effects,and Apgar score.Two independent reviewers will evaluate the full texts,extract data,and assess the risk of bias.Publication bias will be evaluated using Egger's or Begg's tests as well as visual analysis of a funnel plot,and heterogeneity will be evaluated using the Cochran Q test,P values,and I2 values.Meta-analysis,subgroup analysis,and sensitivity analysis will be performed using RevMan software version 5.4.This protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)Protocols statement,and the PRISMA statement will be used for the systematic review.RESULTS This study provides reliable information regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.CONCLUSION To support clinical practice and development,this study provides evidence-based findings regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.

Process Management of Analgesia and Sedation Can Reduce the Incidence of Delirium

Background: Critical patients in ICU have to experience pain, anxiety, and sleep deprivation which always cause delirium, which will prolong the hospital stay and come up with higher mortality. Analgesia based sedation can reduce the accumulation of sedative effects, and shorten ventilator time and ICU length of stay. Process management of analgesia and sedation can reduce the incidence of delirium. Objectives: To explore the clinical benefits of procedural analgesia and sedation for critical ill patients. Methods: This is a prospective, two-phase study that focuses on patients who required mechanical ventilation after surgery. Comparing patients’ pain and agitation scores, the species and dosage of sedative and analgesic, the incidence of delirium in the observation period and intervention period, data in two groups were collected and analyzed. Results: During the observational and interventional periods, we enrolled 213 patients before protocol implantation and 196 patients after protocol implantation. We found that there existed impropriate pain and sedation assessment in patients involved, and after training for procedural protocol, the average dosage of sedatives was decreased (p > 0.05). The percentage of reaching standard COPT score was 73.7% vs 84.1% (p > 0.05) and RASS score was 70.9% vs 79.6% (p > 0.05) in the observation period and intervention period, and the incidence of delirium was significantly reduced (31.9% vs 23.5%, p Conclusion: We concluded that protocol implantation of analgesia and sedation can reduce the incidence of delirium.

Caution in the use of sedation and endomyocardial biopsy for the management of pediatric acute heart failure caused by endocardial fibroelastosis

Endocardial fibroelastosis(EFE)is commonly considered to be an inflammatory reactive lesion of hyperplasia and deposition of tissue fibers and collagen in the endocardium and/or subendocardium,which is strongly associated with endocardial sclerosis,ventricular remodeling and acute and chronic heart failure,and is one of the important causes for pediatric heart transplantation.Early diagnosis and treatment are the key factors in determining the prognosis of the children.In this paper,we would like to highlight the potential unintended consequences of the use of sedation and biopsy for pediatric acute heart failure caused by EFE and the comprehensive considerations prior to clinical diagnosis.

Advances in epidural labor analgesia:Effectiveness and treatment strategies of butorphanol

In this editorial,we provide a critical review of the article by Tang et al published in the World J Clin Cases,focusing on the utilization of butorphanol for epidural analgesia during labor.Our discussion encompasses recent research developments in epidural labor analgesia,specifically highlighting the current status of clinical applications of butorphanol and associated treatment approaches.Epidural analgesia is widely acknowledged as the primary method for pain management during labor,offering effective and prolonged pain relief while allowing mothers to remain alert and actively participate in the delivery process.Among the various drugs utilized for epidural labor analgesia,butorphanol has received increasing attention due to its potential efficacy and distinctive pharmacological properties.As a synthetic opioid analgesic,butorphanol exhibits both agonistic and antagonistic activity on opioid receptors,striking a balance between analgesia and minimizing side effects.Nevertheless,the safety and efficacy of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia remains controversial.While certain studies have reported positive outcomes with butorphanol,including effective pain relief and a reduced incidence of side effects,others have raised concerns about its safety and efficacy compared to traditional opioids or alternative analgesics.In addition,the optimal dosing strategy and regimen of butorphanol as an adjuvant in epidural labor analgesia still need to be verified.Through comprehensive synthesis and analysis of existing literature,we aim to evaluate the current evidence regarding the use of butorphanol for epidural labor analgesia,delineate areas of consensus and controversy,and propose future avenues for research and clinical practice in this domain.

End-tidal capnometry during emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia： a randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND:This prospective,randomized trial was undertaken to evaluate the utility of adding end-tidal capnometry(ETC)to pulse oximetry(PO)in patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia(PSA)in the emergency department(ED).METHODS:The patients were randomized to monitoring with or without ETC in addition to the current standard of care.Primary endpoints included respiratory adverse events,with secondary endpoints of level of sedation,hypotension,other PSA-related adverse events and patient satisfaction.RESULTS:Of 986 patients,501 were randomized to usual care and 485 to additional ETC monitoring.In this series,48%of the patients were female,with a mean age of 46 years.Orthopedic manipulations(71%),cardioversion(12%)and abscess incision and drainage(12%)were the most common procedures,and propofol and fentanyl were the sedative/analgesic combination used for most patients.There was no difference in patients experiencing de-saturation(Sa O2<90%)between the two groups;however,patients in the ETC group were more likely to require airway repositioning(12.9%vs.9.3%,P=0.003).Hypotension(SBP<100 mm Hg or<85 mm Hg if baseline<100 mm Hg)was observed in 16(3.3%)patients in the ETC group and 7(1.4%)in the control group(P=0.048).CONCLUSIONS:The addition of ETC does not appear to change any clinically significant outcomes.We found an increased incidence of the use of airway repositioning maneuvers and hypotension in cases where ETC was used.We do not believe that ETC should be recommended as a standard of care for the monitoring of patients undergoing PSA.

Study on Analgesia and Sedation of Butorphanol Tartrate Combined with Dexmedetomidine in Severe Cerebral Hemorrhage for Patients with Mechanical Ventilation

Objective: To analyze the effect and advantages in analgesia and sedation of butorphanol tartrate combined with dexmedetomidine in severe cerebral hemorrhage for patients with mechanical ventilation. Methods: 120 patients with severe cerebral hemorrhage requiring analgesia and sedation were randomly selected and divided into two groups: the control group (dexmedetomidine treatment group) and the test group (dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol tartrate). Two groups of patients with different drugs were analyzed. Results: The average dose of dexmedetomidine (microgram) and the total adverse events (Times) in the test group were significantly lower than those in the control group within 48 hours (P < 0.05);The dose of Butorphanol in the test group was small, and the patients in the control group used other opioid analgesics to pump more significantly. Conclusion: Using butorphanol tartrate combined with dexmedetomidine can achieve the same sedative effect and enhance the analgesic effect as using dexmedetomidine alone with less dose of dexmedetomidine, and the clinical effect is significant. It also solves the problem that adverse reactions such as blood pressure change and bradycardia are easy to occur when using large dose of dexmedetomidine and the infusion speed is fast in clinical application, and significantly reduces the incidence of adverse reactions. It is worthy of clinical application.

Monitoring salivary amylase activity is useful for providing timely analgesia under sedation

AIM:To detect the criteria and cause of elevated salivary amylase activity(sAMY)in patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)under sedation.METHODS:A total of 41 patients with early gastric cancer removed via ESD under deep sedation(DS)were enrolled.The perioperative sAMY,which was shown as sympathetic excitements(SE),was measured.The time at which a patient exhibited a relatively increased rate of sAMY compared with the preoperative baseline level(IR,%)≥100%(twice the actual value)was assumed as the moment when the patient received SE.Among the 41 patients,we focused on 14 patients who exhibited an IR≥100% at any time that was associated with sAMY elevation during ESD(H-group)and examined whether any particular endoscopic procedures can cause SE by simultaneously monitoring the sAMY level.If a patient demonstrated an elevated sAMY level above twice the baseline level,the endoscopic procedure was immediately stopped.In the impossible case of discontinuance,analgesic medicines were administered.This study was performed prospectively.RESULTS:A total of 26 episodes of sAMY eruption were considered moments of SE in the H-group.The baseline level of sAMY significantly increased in association with an IR of>100% at 5 min,with a significant difference(IR immediately before elevation/IR at elevation of sAMY=8.72±173/958±1391%,P<0.001).However,effective intervention decreased the elevated sAMY level immediately within only 5 min,with a significant difference(IR at sAMY elevation/immediately after intervention=958±1391/476±1031,P<0.001).The bispectral indices,systolic blood pressure and pulse rates,which were measured at the same time,remained stable throughout the ESD.Forceful endoscopic insertion or over insufflation was performed during 22 of the 26 episodes.Release of the gastric wall tension and/or the administration of analgesic medication resulted in the immediate recovery of the elevated sAMY level,independent of body movement.CONCLUSION:By detecting twice the actual sAMY based on the preoperative level,the release of the gastric wall tension or the administration of analgesic agents should be considered.

Effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture analgesia in controlling intraoperative pain and hemodynamics during total thyroidectomy:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture in conjunction with additional medications in providing analgesia and stabilizing hemodynamic parameters during total thyroidectomy.Methods:This randomized controlled trial included 100 patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy between October 2022 and October 2023 at the Vietnam National Hospital of Acupuncture.The patients were randomized into two groups.The electroacupuncture analgesia(EA)group received EA stimulation at five acupuncture points:Hegu(LI 4),Neiguan(PC 6),Shuitu(ST 10),Quepen(ST 12),and Yifeng(SJ 17),while the control group received a bilateral superficial cervical plexus block.Primary outcomes included the level of analgesia and perioperative vital signs in both groups.Additionally,pain thresholds and serum b-endorphin levels were measured before and after electroacupuncture in the EA group.Results:Complete analgesia(Level A)was attained in 86%and 76%of the patients in the EA and control groups,respectively,with no significant difference between the two groups(P¼1.00).In the EA group,the mean pain threshold after receiving EA doubled(648.7(77.4)g/s vs.305.3(45.3)g/s,P<.001),and the mean serum b-endorphin level increased by approximately 13.5 pg/mL(P<.001).All patients remained hemodynamically stable throughout the surgery.Conclusion:EA,in conjunction with additional medications that stimulate five acupuncture points,LI 4,PC 6,ST 10,ST 12,and SJ 17,was well tolerated and effectively maintained a suitable level of analgesia and hemodynamic stability during total thyroidectomy.