Objective:To evaluate the optimization efficacy of low-dose esketamine combined with propofol in the patients with major depressive disorder undergoing modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT).Methods:Fifty-six American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠor Ⅱ patients, aged 18-64 yr, scheduled for MECT for the first time, were assigned into esketamine plus propofol group (group EP, n=28) and propofol group (group P, n=28) according to a ratio of 1∶1 by the random number table method.Esketamine 0.25 mg/kg was intravenously injected before anesthesia induction in group EP, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group P. Propofol and succinylcholine were then intravenously injected to perform MECT in two groups.The primary outcomes were the remission rate and response rate, and the secondary outcomes included the number of MECT required for response and remission, the seizure duration, energy inhibition index and consumption of propofol for each MECT, and the occurrence of therapy-related adverse reactions and relapse. Results:Compared with group P, the remission rate and response rate were significantly increased, and the number of MECT required for response and remission was decreased, the seizure duration was prolonged, and energy inhibition index was increased, the consumption of propofol was reduced ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the incidence of therapy-related adverse reactions and relapse in group EP ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Low-dose esketamine combined with propofol can enhance the efficacy of MECT and shorten the course of therapy without increasing therapy-related adverse reactions in the patients with major depression.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of remimazolam combined with alfentanil for gastroscopy in frail elderly patients.Methods:Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ elderly patients, aged 65-85 yr, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, of Clinical Frailty Scale score≥5, scheduled for elective painless gastroscopy, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: remimazolam combined with alfentanil group (group R) and propofol combined with remifentanil group (group P). A combination of alfentanil 10 μg/kg and remimazolam 0.2 mg/kg was intravenously injected until loss of consciousness in group R. Remifentanil 0.5 μg/kg combined with propofol 1.0-2.0 mg/kg was intravenously injected until loss of consciousness in group P. According to the intraoperative conditions, 1/4 of the initial dose of remimazolam was intravenously injected in group R, and 1/4 of the initial dose of propofol was intravenously injected in group P. The time for gastroscopy, requirement for additional remimazolam or propofol, onset time of anesthesia, emergence time and time of post-anesthesia care unit stay were recorded.Physician′s satisfaction scores, patient′s satisfaction scores and Verbal Pain Scale scores were recorded.The occurrence of injection pain, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension and nausea and vomit was recorded. Results:There was no significant difference in the requirement for additional remimazolam or propofol, onset time of anesthesia, time for gastroscopy, physician′s satisfaction scores, and patient′s satisfaction scores, Verbal Pain Scale scores and incidence of nausea and vomit between two groups ( P>0.05). Compared with P group, the emergence time and time of post-anesthesia care unit stay were significantly shortened, and the incidence of injection pain (0 vs.33%), respiratory depression (0 vs.20%), hypotension (3% vs.23%) and bradycardia (3% vs.23%) was decreased in R group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Remimazolam combined with alfentanil is safe and effective, with rapid recovery from anesthesia, and provides better efficacy than the combination of propofol and remifentanil when used for gastroscopy in frail elderly patients.

Objective:To evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of remiazolam combined with alfentanil in the patients undergoing painless gastroscopy.Methods:A total of 400 patients of both sexes, aged 20-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective painless gastroscopy, were divided into 2 groups ( n=200 each) using the computer-generated random numbers: remimazolam combined with alfentanil group (group RA) and propofol combined with alfentanil group (group PA).All subjects inhaled oxygen and were denitrogenated by deep inhalation.Alfentanil 7 μg/kg and remimazolam 0.2 mg/kg were intravenously injected in group RA, and alfentanil 7 μg/kg and propofol 1.5 mg/kg were intravenously injected in group PA.When body movement occurred during operation, remimazolam 2.5 mg was intravenously injected in group RA, propofol 0.5 mg/kg was intravenously injected in group PA, and anesthesia was defined as failure when there was still body movement after 3 times of additional injection within 15 min.The success of anesthesia, effective time of sedatives, time of gastroscopy, emergence time, perioperative adverse reactions, and satisfaction score of endoscopic surgeons-anesthesiologists-patients were assessed using visual analog scale score. Results:Compared with group PA, the incidence of hypotension (6.2%/14.0%), bradycardia (6.2%/19.0%), respiratory depression (3.1%/8.0%), injection pain (2.1%/30.0%), postoperative nausea (6.3%/25.0%), fatigue (7.8%/14.0%) was significantly decreased, and the incidence of hiccup (8.3%/1.0%) and patient′ s satisfaction score were increased in group RA ( P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in the success rate of sedation, effective time of sedatives, time of gastroscopic examination, emergence time, satisfaction scores of anesthesiologists-endoscopic surgeons, and incidence of postoperative vomiting, dizziness, and lethargy ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with conventional anesthesia for painless gastroscopy, remiazolam (0.2 mg/kg) combined with alfentanil (7 μg/kg) has a certain optimization effect in anesthesia for gastroscopy.

Objective:To evaluate the value of modified gastroscopic laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for airway management under general anesthesia in the patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL).Methods:Sixty-two American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱor Ⅲ patients with liver cirrhosis of either sex, aged 25-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, undergoing endoscopic EVL with general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=31 each) using a random number table method: tracheal tube group (group T) and modified gastroscopic LMA group (group L). After induction of anesthesia, a tracheal tube was inserted in group T, and a modified gastroscopic LMA was inserted and the patients were mechanically ventilated to maintain P ETCO 2 at 30-40 mmHg in group L. Successful tracheal intubation or insertion of modified gastroscopic LMA, successful ligator insertion and duration of ligator insertion were recorded.The occurrence of intraoperative hypotension, bradycardia and hypoxemia and consumption of propofol and remifentanil were recorded.At 1 min after tracheal intubation or right placement of LMA (T 1), immediately after the ligator insertion (T 2) and at the end of operation (T 3), Peak (P peak) and mean (P mean) airway pressure were monitored, and airway leak pressure in group L was measured.The extubation time, duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay and bucking during extubation were recorded.The occurrence of sore throat and nausea and vomiting was recorded within 6 h after operation.Postoperative satisfaction scores of endoscopists and patients were also recorded. Results:Sixty-one patients were finally enrolled in the study, with 31 in group T and 30 in group L. Compared with group T, no significant changes were found in the success rate of tracheal intubation or LMA placement, success rate of ligator insertion, P mean at each time point, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative satisfaction score of endoscopists ( P>0.05), duration of the ligator insertion was significantly shortened, P peak at each time point was decreased, the incidence of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia was decreased, the consumption of propofol and remifentanil was reduced, the incidence of bucking during extubation and postoperative sore throat was reduced, and extubation time and duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay was shortened, and satisfaction scores of patients were increased in group L ( P<0.05). No hypoxemia was found in two groups.Airway leak pressure was maintained at 24-26 cmH 2O at each time point in group L. Conclusions:Modified gastroscopic LMA can be safely and effectively used for airway management under general anesthesia in the patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing EVL.