Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial

Introduction Prolonged infusion of anaesthetics is associated with delayed emergence (DE) from general anaesthesia due to residual drug effects. Remimazolam besylate, a novel ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, exhibits minimal accumulation, and its sedative effects can be reversed with flumazenil. Th...

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Main Authors: Wei Luo, Liang Wen, Jingjing Sun, Yanying Xiao, Ruping Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e097541.full
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author Wei Luo
Liang Wen
Jingjing Sun
Yanying Xiao
Ruping Dai
author_facet Wei Luo
Liang Wen
Jingjing Sun
Yanying Xiao
Ruping Dai
author_sort Wei Luo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Prolonged infusion of anaesthetics is associated with delayed emergence (DE) from general anaesthesia due to residual drug effects. Remimazolam besylate, a novel ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, exhibits minimal accumulation, and its sedative effects can be reversed with flumazenil. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of DE from anaesthesia using remimazolam–flumazenil or propofol in patients undergoing major spine surgery.Methods and analysis This multicentre, randomised controlled trial will be conducted in five hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Approximately 164 patients undergoing major spine surgery lasting >3 hours will be randomly assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio. In the remimazolam–flumazenil group, remimazolam will be administered for anaesthesia induction and maintenance, followed by flumazenil for reversal after surgery, whereas propofol will be administered in the propofol group. The primary outcome is the incidence of DE from anaesthesia. The secondary outcomes include the time to obey verbal command, time to bispectral index over 80, time to extubation, length of stay in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU), Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale scores and Modified Aldrete scores on arrival at PACU, at 30 and 60 min, as well as adverse events throughout recovery. All statistical tests will be conducted using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A P-value<0.05 will be considered significant.Ethics and dissemination This randomised controlled trial protocol has received ethical approval from the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (Approval number: LYEC2024-0357). All participants will be required to provide written informed consent before study enrolment. The findings will be disseminated at academic conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number ChiCTR2400092451
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spelling doaj-art-2ce7b0fee32547e5a2bdf172fdc716332025-08-20T03:38:58ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-08-0115810.1136/bmjopen-2024-097541Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trialWei Luo0Liang Wen1Jingjing Sun2Yanying Xiao3Ruping Dai4Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, ChinaIntroduction Prolonged infusion of anaesthetics is associated with delayed emergence (DE) from general anaesthesia due to residual drug effects. Remimazolam besylate, a novel ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, exhibits minimal accumulation, and its sedative effects can be reversed with flumazenil. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of DE from anaesthesia using remimazolam–flumazenil or propofol in patients undergoing major spine surgery.Methods and analysis This multicentre, randomised controlled trial will be conducted in five hospitals in Hunan Province, China. Approximately 164 patients undergoing major spine surgery lasting >3 hours will be randomly assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio. In the remimazolam–flumazenil group, remimazolam will be administered for anaesthesia induction and maintenance, followed by flumazenil for reversal after surgery, whereas propofol will be administered in the propofol group. The primary outcome is the incidence of DE from anaesthesia. The secondary outcomes include the time to obey verbal command, time to bispectral index over 80, time to extubation, length of stay in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU), Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale scores and Modified Aldrete scores on arrival at PACU, at 30 and 60 min, as well as adverse events throughout recovery. All statistical tests will be conducted using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A P-value<0.05 will be considered significant.Ethics and dissemination This randomised controlled trial protocol has received ethical approval from the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (Approval number: LYEC2024-0357). All participants will be required to provide written informed consent before study enrolment. The findings will be disseminated at academic conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number ChiCTR2400092451https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e097541.full
spellingShingle Wei Luo
Liang Wen
Jingjing Sun
Yanying Xiao
Ruping Dai
Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
BMJ Open
title Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
title_full Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
title_short Comparison of remimazolam–flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery: protocol for a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial
title_sort comparison of remimazolam flumazenil versus propofol on delayed emergence from anaesthesia in major spine surgery protocol for a multicentre single blinded randomised controlled trial
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e097541.full
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