Patients presenting for a scheduled cesarean delivery who require a neuraxial anesthetic will be randomized to receive intravenous remimazolam or dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation during the placement of their spinal or epidural anesthesia.
After obtaining consent, women presenting for scheduled cesarean delivery on the labor floor at Mount Sinai Hospital will be randomized into two groups to receive either remimazolam or dexmedetomidine. Baseline maternal demographic data, vital signs, and anxiety scores will be obtained. Prior to the placement of the spinal or epidural anesthesia, the unblinded clinical team will administer weight-based intravenous boluses of the assigned study medication, titrated to a target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of -1 to -2. Maternal anxiety scores and vital signs will be continuously monitored at 5-minute intervals throughout the neuraxial placement procedure. Following the completion of the cesarean delivery, a blinded research member will administer a brief survey in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to evaluate patient satisfaction and memory preservation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
150
Administered via multiple weight-based intravenous boluses of 0.03 mg/kg over 1-2 minutes. Boluses are titrated sequentially until the patient reaches a target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of -1 to -2. Once the target sedation window is initially achieved, the clinical anesthesiologist will ask the patient if they desire additional anxiolysis; additional boluses will be given only upon explicit patient request. Administration terminates immediately upon successful placement of the neuraxial block.
Administered via multiple weight-based intravenous boluses of 0.1 μg/kg over 1-2 minutes. Boluses are titrated sequentially until the patient reaches a target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of -1 to -2. Once the target sedation window is initially achieved, the clinical anesthesiologist will ask the patient if they desire additional anxiolysis; additional boluses will be given only upon explicit patient request. Administration terminates immediately upon successful placement of the neuraxial block.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States
Sedation success
This will be a composite primary outcome that is patient focused with values "Yes" or "No." To achieve a "Yes" for sedation success, all the following components must be met: * Satisfaction of anxiolysis rated as ≥ 2 on a 9-point scale (where -4 = Completely Dissatisfied, 0 = Neutral, and +4 = Completely Satisfied) * Preserved memory of the birth * No vital sign changes during the neuraxial placement, defined as hypotension (SBP \< 80% of baseline), hypertension (SBP \> 120% of baseline), bradycardia (HR \< 60 bpm), tachycardia (HR \> 100 bpm), respiratory depression (RR \< 12 breaths/min), hypoxia (SpO2 \< 90%). Baseline is defined as pre-op vitals taken in the PACU. * Would get the medication again
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Total sedation dose
The total sedation dose used will be recorded for remimazolam in mg and mg/kg and dexmedetomidine in μg and μg/kg. (The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scale score of 0 indicates that the participant is alert and calm.)
Time frame: From the initiation of the study drug until return to baseline sedation (RASS 0), up to approximately 2 hours.
Time to peak sedation
The time to peak sedation will be defined as the time from start of sedation to highest Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) sedation score recorded. The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scale will be scored: 0 = alert and calm; -1 = drowsy (not fully alert, sustained (\> 10 s) awareness with eye contact to voice); -2 = light sedation (awakens briefly (\< 10 s) with eye contact to voice); -3 = moderate sedation (movement but no eye contact to voice); -4 = deep sedation (no response to voice, but eye opens or movement to physical stimulation); and -5 = unarousable (no response to voice or physical stimulation).
Time frame: From the initiation of the study drug until highest level of sedation, total sedation approximately 20 minutes.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)
The participant's sedation score will be assessed using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scale. A RASS score of 0 = alert and calm; -1 = drowsy (not fully alert, sustained (\> 10 s) awareness with eye contact to voice); -2 = light sedation (awakens briefly (\< 10 s) with eye contact to voice); -3 = moderate sedation (movement but no eye contact to voice); -4 = deep sedation (no response to voice, but eye opens or movement to physical stimulation); and -5 = unarousable (no response to voice or physical stimulation).
Time frame: Assessed at baseline and 1-minute intervals until baseline is restored, up to approximately 2 hours.
Time to sedation recovery
The time to sedation recovery, which is the time between last minute of peak sedation (RASS -1 to -2) to baseline sedation (RASS 0), will be recorded. A Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score of 0 = alert and calm; -1 = drowsy (not fully alert, sustained (\> 10 s) awareness with eye contact to voice); -2 = light sedation (awakens briefly (\< 10 s) with eye contact to voice); -3 = moderate sedation (movement but no eye contact to voice); -4 = deep sedation (no response to voice, but eye opens or movement to physical stimulation); and -5 = unarousable (no response to voice or physical stimulation).
Time frame: From the initiation of the study drug until return to baseline sedation (RASS 0), up to approximately 2 hours.
Anxiety scores
Anxiety scores will be assessed via Likert scale 1-10. A higher score indicates higher level of anxiety.
Time frame: From the initiation of the study drug at baseline, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes until neuraxial completion, up to 20 minutes.
Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS)
Patient satisfaction will be assessed using a short survey given in the PACU after the cesarean delivery using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS). ISAS is scored as a mean of responses to 11 statements (e.g., "I felt pain," "I was satisfied with my anesthetic care"), yielding a single composite number. Each statement is measured from a range of -3 (not satisfied) to +3 (satisfied). A higher score indicates a higher patient satisfaction.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Time for Neuraxial Placement
The time for neuraxial placement, which is the total time it takes for the anesthesiologist to complete placement of the neuraxial for the patient before cesarean delivery, will be recorded.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Heart Rate
The patient's heart rate (HR) will be assessed.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Mean Blood Pressure
The patient's mean blood pressure (MBP) will be assessed.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Respiratory Rate
The patient's respiratory rate (RR) will be assessed.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Oxygen Saturation
The patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) will be assessed.
Time frame: Every 5 minutes from the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who experienced hypoxia
The presence of hypoxia will be accessed. Hypoxia will be defined as oxygen saturation (SpO2) \< 90%.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who experienced hypotension
The presence of hypotension will be accessed. Hypotension is systolic blood pressure (SBP) \< 80% of baseline.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who experienced tachycardia
The presence of tachycardia will be accessed. Tachycardia will be heart rate (HR) \> 100 bpm.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who experienced bradycardia
The presence of bradycardia will be accessed. Bradycardia will be heart rate (HR) \< 60 bpm.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who used vasoactive drugs (ephedrine, phenylephrine)
Vasoactive drugs (ephedrine, phenylephrine) are used if a patient has hypotension refractory to the standard care of fluids and prophylactic phenylephrine.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of participants who needed flumazenil
Flumazenil is a reversal agent for remimazolam and used if the patient is clinically oversedated.
Time frame: From the initiation of study drug administration until participant discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Number of fetal NICU admissions
The number of fetal NICU admissions will be recorded.
Time frame: Up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Fetal APGAR scores
The APGAR score is a cumulative score ranging from 0 to 10. A higher score indicates a better health outcome.
Time frame: 1 minute and 5 minutes after infant birth.
Umbilical artery/vein pH
This is the pH of the umbilical artery and vein. Umbilical cord blood pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in the blood obtained from the umbilical artery and/or umbilical vein at birth. The pH scale is continuous, with a lower pH indicating greater acidemia. A lower pH may reflect increased fetal exposure to intrapartum hypoxia.
Time frame: Up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.
Base excess
Base excess in umbilical cord blood is a continuous measure reported in mmol/L (or mEq/L). A higher (less negative) base excess indicates more normal neonatal acid-base status, while a lower (more negative) base excess indicates greater metabolic acidosis, reflecting fetal oxygen deficit during labor and delivery.
Time frame: Up to approximately 4 hours post-delivery.