Comparative Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of Remimazolam and Propofol in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery Under General Anaesthesia

Only patients with scheduled operations were screened for eligibility in this study. Screening period for each patient lasted from 1 to 14 days. All patients eligible as per protocol criteria were randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive investigational or reference drug. Randomisation was carried out in admission to the operating room ‐ Day1. For the induction of anesthesia, first there was administration of the trial drug / reference drug, then ‐ administration of a narcotic analgesic (fentanyl at a dose of 2 mg/kg), after which after loss of consciousness, muscle relaxant was used (rocuronium bromide at a dose of 0.6‐0.9 mg/kg). Tracheal intubation was performed after achieving the necessary relaxation of the muscles. Maintenance of anesthesia during surgery was done using the trial drug / reference drug, muscle relaxant (rocuronium bromide ‐ if necessary, during the anesthesia maintenance, the dose was selected individually) and narcotic analgetic (fentanyl, if necessary, during the anesthesia maintenance, the dose was selected individually). To control patient's condition before, during and after surgery, the significant vital parameters were monitored (level of blood pressure and heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, saturation, intraoperative ECG, bispectral index (BIS)). After the operation patients were transferred to the postoperation room where the assessment of the operation memory, and possible presence of postoperative delirium was performed as well as on Day 2. Further treatment and determination of compliance of patient's condition with the criteria for discharge from the hospital was carried out in accordance with current practice of the center. In 7 (± 2) days after the end of trial drugs administration, patient's condition monitoring and safety evaluation were carried out through telephone contact with the patient, during which data on adverse events and concomitant therapy were collected. Scheduled trial duration for each patient was a maximum of 24 days. Therapy was considered ineffective, if other sedatives were required for induction (loss of consciousness was not registered after study drugs dose adjustment) and/or maintenance of the required level of sedation during anesthesia (in case of signs of awakening appeared and remained after study drugs dose adjustment). Therapy efficacy evaluation was based on primary and secondary efficacy criteria. Effect of general anesthetic, a combined evaluation criterion consisted of the following criteria. The trial drug/reference drug was regarded effective in patients who had not had any of the below criteria and ineffective in patients who had at least one of the below criteria: 1. Intraoperative awakening / preservation of memories of operations; 2. The need for additional sedation.