Propofol-Fentanyl versus propofol-ketamine sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The optimal procedural sedation and analgesic regime for gastrointestinal endoscopy is uncertain. Ketamine and fentanyl are commonly used analgesic agents alongside propofol but both have significant side effect profiles. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elliott N. Rees, Lucy MS Hoade, Luke Mattey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-07-01
Series:Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sja.sja_588_24
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Summary:Background: The optimal procedural sedation and analgesic regime for gastrointestinal endoscopy is uncertain. Ketamine and fentanyl are commonly used analgesic agents alongside propofol but both have significant side effect profiles. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the efficacy and safety of propofol-ketamine (PK) to propofol-fentanyl (PF) sedation for patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: Medline, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched to identify all comparative studies comparing PF to PK sedation. Nine randomized control trials (RCTs) met inclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were procedure time and recovery time. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects. All outcome data analyses were conducted using random-effects modeling. Findings: Nine RCTs with a total of 1006 patients were analyzed (508 (50.5%) PF, 498 PK). Sedation-analgesia regimes with PF were associated with both shorter procedure times (mean difference (MD) = -1.670 minutes (95% CI, -2.890, -0.450); P < 0.01) and recovery times (MD = -1.215 minutes (95% CI,-2.131, -0.300)) compared with PK. In the PF group, there was a higher incidence of desaturation (PF: 18.03% vs PK: 7.84%, OR = 3.163 (95% CI, 1.552, 6.444); P < 0.01) and hypotension (PF: 17.20% vs PK: 8.33%, OR = 2.501 (95% CI, 1.296, 4.824); P < 0.01). Conclusions: There is moderate certainty evidence that PF reduces procedure time and low certainty that it improves recovery time compared to PK for gastrointestinal endoscopy. The risk of potentially life-threatening hypotension and desaturation was significantly greater in the PF group.
ISSN:1658-354X
0975-3125