Clinical Report: Utilization of Remimazolam Anesthesia in Older Adults

Overview

This study evaluates remimazolam versus propofol anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing radical colorectal cancer surgery, highlighting faster gastrointestinal recovery and lower complication rates with remimazolam.

Background

Colorectal cancer surgery poses significant challenges, particularly for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Optimizing anesthesia is crucial for improving recovery outcomes, especially gastrointestinal function, which is vital for reducing hospital stays.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Remimazolam anesthesia resulted in higher motilin and gastrin levels compared to propofol.
• Patients receiving remimazolam experienced shorter gastrointestinal recovery times.
• Lower rates of nausea/vomiting were observed in the remimazolam group.
• Delirium incidence was significantly reduced in patients anesthetized with remimazolam.
• QoR-15 scores were higher in the remimazolam group.

Clinical Implications

Further studies are warranted to confirm these associations.

Conclusion

These results highlight the need for further research to establish causality.

Related Resources & Content

1. Frontiers in Medicine, 2026 -- Remimazolam Is Associated with Superior Cerebral and Pulmonary Protection over Propofol in Elderly Thoracic Surgery: A Real-World Study Validated by Propensity Score Matching
2. Frontiers in Medicine, 2026 -- Remimazolam-based anesthesia in sepsis patients: a retrospective cohort study of hemodynamic stability and postoperative outcomes
3. Frontiers in Medicine, 2026 -- Clinical outcomes of a remimazolam-based sedation regimen in patients receiving ECMO: a retrospective comparative study
4. Journal of Gastroenterology, 2025 -- Comparative Effectiveness and Recovery Outcomes of Remimazolam versus Midazolam in Sedation for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Findings from a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial in Japan (RECOVER Study)
5. Clinical practice guidelines for enhanced recovery after colon and rectal surgery from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons | Surgical Endoscopy | Springer Nature Link
6. Comparison between hemodynamic effects of remimazolam and propofol during general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed
7. ASCRS/SAGES Enhanced Recovery Clinical Practice Guideline
8. Comparison between hemodynamic effects of remimazolam and propofol during general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed
9. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2024; 41:81–108