Age effect on efficacy and side effects of two sedation and analgesia protocols on patients going through cardioversion: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Cardioversion (CV), a painful procedure, requires sedation and analgesia. Although several sedation agents currently are in use for CV, data on age-specific efficacy and side effects of midazolam and propofol have been limited.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and side effects of midazolam and propofol in patients of two different age groups, younger than 65 years and 65 years and over, who were going through CV.


METHODS
Seventy consented patients with CV indications caused by atrial fibrillation were included in this clinical trial. The participants were placed into four groups by using a stratified randomization method: patients aged younger than 65 years who were receiving midazolam (n = 12) or propofol (n = 11) and patients 65 years and over who were receiving midazolam (n = 25) or propofol (n = 22). Medications were administered by slow intermittent bolus injections. During CV, time to reach Ramsay Sedation Scale level 5 (RSS-5; induction time); time to reach RSS-2 (recovery time); and side effects including desaturation, apnea, and changes in hemodynamic parameters were recorded by a person blinded to the patient treatment allocation.


RESULTS
Mean induction time was similar in all four groups. Mean recovery time (min +/- SD) was shorter in both propofol groups when compared with both midazolam groups: 18.8 (+/- 4.06) and 40.33 (+/- 20.8) in the group younger than 65 years and 18.2 (+/- 5.12) and 54.2 (+/- 20.85) in the group 65 years or older, respectively (p < 0.001). Older participants in each medication group needed less medication than younger patients. There were no hemodynamic differences between the groups. Desaturation was higher in both midazolam groups as compared with individuals in the age-matched propofol groups (both p < 0.05). Patient reactions were less in propofol groups with similar joules during CV procedures than were those in the midazolam groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Propofol appears to be a better choice for CV sedation in elders because of its short recovery time, fewer side effects, and its more comfortable sedative effect.
Department of Anesthesiology, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
Mine
M
Parlak
Ismet
I
Parlak
Bulent
B
Erdur
Ahmet
A
Ergin
Emel
E
Sagiroglu
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol