This single-center trial compared remimazolam to propofol for sedation during gastroscopy. The study included 150 healthy adults aged 18 to 59 years. Participants received different doses of remimazolam or propofol to achieve adequate sedation.
The researchers found that remimazolam reduced the amount of propofol needed in a dose-dependent way. At the highest dose of remimazolam, the propofol requirement dropped significantly compared to the control group. The effect on the propofol target concentration also decreased as the remimazolam dose increased.
Procedure duration and time spent in the recovery room did not differ significantly between the groups. The incidence of sedation-related adverse events was comparable among all groups. No serious adverse events were reported, and no participants discontinued the study due to tolerability issues. The 0.1 mg/kg dose appeared to offer a favorable balance between reduced propofol requirement and recovery profile, supporting its clinical feasibility.