Feasibility of non-anesthesiologist-administered sedation with dexmedetomidine and midazolam during endoscopic submucosal dissection of upper gastrointestinal tumors

Objectives: The efficacy and safety of a sedation regimen combining dexmedetomidine and midazolam during endoscopic submucosal dissection for upper gastrointestinal tumors remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this sedation regimen, where non-anesthesiologists performed sedation.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for upper gastrointestinal tumors, sedated by non-anesthesiologists, were retrospectively evaluated. The sedation was performed by non-anesthesiologists as part of on-the-job training (OJT) under anesthesiologists' supervision. Each non-anesthesiologist received OJT at least thrice. Proficiency levels were assessed during the third OJT session. The target sedation depth was a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale of -2 to -4, with 2 L/min of oxygen delivered via a nasal cannula at sedation initiation. The treatment completion rates, which measured efficacy and safety, were assessed by the frequencies of respiratory depression, hypotension, and bradycardia.

Results: The study included 14, 52, and two patients with superficial esophageal cancer, early gastric cancer, and gastric adenoma, respectively. The median treatment time was 68 and 84 min for superficial esophageal cancer, early gastric cancer, and adenoma, respectively. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was completed in all patients. No severe sedation-related adverse events were reported; however, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation <90%, hypotension, and bradycardia occurred in 1 (1.5%), 30 (44.1%), and 30 patients (44.1%), respectively. All 22 non-anesthesiologists who underwent the proficiency evaluation passed the test.

Conclusions: A sedation regimen combining dexmedetomidine and midazolam can be feasibly administered by non-anesthesiologists. Further studies are needed to verify the effectiveness of OJT.