Etomidate-propofol combination in painless gastrointestinal endoscopy for elderly patients: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Elderly patients face increased risks during medical procedures due to age-related physiological decline.
• Optimizing anesthesia for painless gastroscopy in older adults is crucial for patient safety and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of combining etomidate and propofol for anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.
• To compare anesthesia quality, patient compliance, and adverse reactions between etomidate-propofol and propofol-only anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 103 elderly patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.
• Patients were randomized into a control group (propofol) and an observation group (etomidate-propofol).
• Key metrics included induction/recovery times, compliance, hemodynamics, adverse events, and pain/sedation scores (VAS, Ramsay).

Main Results:

• The etomidate-propofol group exhibited significantly shorter anesthesia induction, recovery, and orientation recovery times.
• This group also demonstrated superior compliance, enhanced hemodynamic stability, and a lower incidence of adverse reactions.
• Post-recovery VAS and Ramsay scores were notably lower in the etomidate-propofol group.

Conclusions:

• The etomidate-propofol combination appears to enhance anesthesia quality, compliance, and safety in elderly patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.
• This anesthetic approach shows promise for improved clinical application in this patient population.