Lini Chen,* Weiyong Qin,* Jiangdong Wu, Guilin Zhao, Xiaoqing Jiang, Minghui Li, Zijin Huang,* Xueke Du* 

Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Zijin Huang; Xueke Du, Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 166 of Daxue East Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13768114848 ; Tel +86-17307711159, Email batistuta921@163.com; duxueke@gxmu.edu.cn

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effect of remimazolam on induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in kidney transplant patients.
Methods: 120 patients undergoing kidney transplant were divided into two groups: Propofol group (Group P) and Remimazolam group (Group R). Anesthesia induction: remimazolam had injected IV at a dose of 0.15– 0.35 mg/kg in Group R, while propofol had injected IV at a dose of 2.0– 2.5 mg/kg in Group P. Anesthesia maintenance: remimazolam was injected IV at a dose of 0.3– 1.0 mg·kg− 1·h− 1 and propofol was injected IV at a dose of 1– 12 mg·kg− 1·h− 1 in Group R, propofol was injected IV at a dose of 3– 12 mg·kg− 1·h− 1 in Group P. All patients have the same remaining anesthesia durgs.
Results: Compared with Group P, in Group R the time of disappearance of the eyelash reflex and the time to drop to 60 in BIS was longer (P < 0.05), the time of awakening was shorted (P < 0.05), the MAP of T6 was fluctuated less (P < 0.05), the incidence of hypotension and injection pain during induction was reduced (P < 0.001), the incidence of intraoperative bradycardia during operation was reduced (P < 0.05), the dosages of sedatives drug during maintenance was reduced (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative renal function between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Remimazolam can be safely and effectively used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in kidney transplant patients.