Bispectral index during remimazolam versus propofol sedation at matched depths: a randomized, double-blind crossover trial in healthy volunteers

In exploratory analyses, BIS was also higher at moderate sedation and at loss of the eyelash reflex (both <i>p</i> < 0.001), and emergence time did not differ (<i>p</i> = 0.606). At 30 min, processing speedand executive function recovered faster after remimazolam (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001), whereas verbal memory did not differ between agents. All domains converged by 120 min.

Adverse events were uncommon, and the trial was not powered to compare them.</p> <p>At clinically matched sedation depths, remimazolam produced higher BIS values than propofol. Spectral data were not recorded, so the basis of this offset is undetermined, and the cognitive findings were exploratory. Whether this offset warrants agent-specific reference values requires validation in clinical populations.</p> <p></p><p>Remimazolam produced higher BIS values than propofol at all three clinically matched sedation depths in healthy young volunteers.</p><p>Because depth was matched by clinical endpoint, these higher readings do not indicate lighter sedation as conventionally defined.</p><p>Whether this offset warrants agent-specific reference values requires validation in clinical populations before implementation.</p><p></p> <p>Remimazolam produced higher BIS values than propofol at all three clinically matched sedation depths in healthy young volunteers.</p> <p>Because depth was matched by clinical endpoint, these higher readings do not indicate lighter sedation as conventionally defined.</p> <p>Whether this offset warrants agent-specific reference values requires validation in clinical populations before implementation.</p>