Comparative observation of the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam besylate versus dexmedetomidine in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients

BACKGROUND Surgery for obese patients carries a higher risk of anesthesia complications compared with surgery for nonobese patients. Thus, a safe and effective anesthesia strategy is necessary to improve the medical experience of such patients and ensure their safety. AIM To compared the effectiveness and safety of remimazolam besylate versus dexmedetomidine (DEX) in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients. METHODS The study cohort included 60 obese patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery between July 2021 and April 2023, comprising 30 patients who received DEX intervention (control group) and 30 patients who received remimazolam besylate intervention (research group). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), safety (nausea and vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension, and apnea), anesthesia and examination indices [induction time, anesthesia recovery time, and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge time], sedation effect (Ramsay Sedation Scale), and postoperative pain visual analog scale were comparatively analyzed before anesthesia (T0), during anesthesia (T1), and after anesthesia (T2). RESULTS At T1, the research group showed significantly smaller changes in HR, RR, MAP, and SpO2 than the control group, with a significantly lower adverse reaction rate and shorter induction, anesthesia recovery, and PACU discharge times. Additionally, the intra- and postoperative Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were statistically higher in the research group than in the control group. CONCLUSION Remimazolam besylate was significantly more effective than DEX in gastrointestinal surgery in obese patients and had a higher safety profile and value in clinical promotion.