Remimazolam for sedation: A protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis, trial sequential analysis, and GRADE approach

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

Background: Procedural sedation aims to facilitate a successful diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. The pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacodynamic effects need to be taken into consideration when choosing the ideal sedative. Midazolam and propofol are frequently employed. However, they are associated with respiratory depression with increasing dosage. Also, midazolam has a potentially unpredictable pharmacodynamic response and propofol may cause hypotension and injection site pain. Remimazolam may provide a superior alternative due to its rapid pharmacodynamic profile and insignificant circulatory effects. Methods: This protocol employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The review aims to assess the beneficial and harmful clinical effects of remimazolam versus placebo or other sedatives in adult patients requiring sedation in relation to a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, or due to other circumstances. Three primary outcomes are identified: Sedation success rate, respiratory complications, and hemodynamic complications. Six secondary outcomes are identified: among these are quality of recovery and serious adverse events. All randomized trials are included. The search strategy includes six major biomedical databases. Literature screening and data extraction will be performed independently by two authors. Risk of systemic error will be assessed with Risk of Bias 2 Tool. Risk of random error will be assessed with trial sequential analysis. Heterogeneity will be evaluated by appropriate statistical tests. The certainty of the evidence will be judged using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Meta-analysis will be carried out with Rstudio. A “Summary of Findings” table will be presented with our primary and secondary outcome results. Discussion: The systematic review with up-to-date methodology outlined in this protocol investigates the clinical effects of remimazolam in relation to procedural sedation. The results may guide clinicians in the clinical use of remimazolam.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Volume67
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1432-1438
Number of pages7
ISSN0001-5172
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The Department of Anaesthesia, Zealand University Hospital has previously obtained funding for projects from Sygesikringen Denmark and The Novo Nordisk Foundation. Research under contract has been conducted for AM-Pharma. This review has not been influenced by any of these. The department provided investigator salaries and other costs. No external financial support was obtained.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

    Research areas

  • GRADE, meta-analysis, remimazolam, sedation, systematic review, trial sequential analysis

ID: 373669783