Published online Mar 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i9.2773
Peer-review started: October 19, 2021
First decision: December 10, 2021
Revised: December 24, 2021
Accepted: January 29, 2022
Article in press: January 29, 2022
Published online: March 26, 2022
Processing time: 154 Days and 8.5 Hours
Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) progressively developed from a primary diagnostic modality to an interventional procedure in the past two decades. Moderate or deep sedation is considered for diagnostic and some interventional EUS procedures because of the large size of the echoendoscope and potentially prolonged procedure.
The conventional method to preform moderate-to-deep sedation is generally intravenous benzodiazepine alone or in combination with opioids. However, there are many limitations to the conventional method, including an inability for patients to tolerate it due to the possible longevity of EUS procedures. Intranasal medication delivery is an innovative approach with a more gradual onset and fewer side effects than intravenous administration.
The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal effective dose of intranasal sufentanil (SUF) when combined with intranasal dexmedetomidine (DEX) for moderate sedation of EUS in at least 95% of patients (ED95).
This study has used continual reassessment method (CRM) to determine the minimal effective dose of intranasal SUF when combined with intranasal DEX for moderate sedation of EUS in at least 95% of patients (ED95). The sedation status was assessed by Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/ Sedation (MOAA/S) score. The adverse events and the satisfaction scores of patients and endoscopists were recorded.
The ED95 was intranasal 0.3 μg/kg SUF when combined with intranasal 1 μg/kg DEX, with an estimated probability of successful moderate sedation for EUS of 94.9% (95% confidence interval: 88.1-98.9%).
The ED95 needed for moderate sedation for EUS is intranasal 0.3 μg/kg SUF when combined with intranasal 1 μg/kg DEX, based on CRM.
This study provides an alternative to intravenous administration for sedation that both patients and endoscopists were satisfied with. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it provides an alternative to intravenous administration by administering intranasal 1 μg/kg DEX in combination with 0.3 μg/kg SUF to patients scheduled for EUS.