Effects of low-dose esketamine on hypoxemia during gastroscopy in patients with moderate-to-high risk obstructive sleep apnea: protocol for a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
Trials September 26, 2025 Xin-Ming Li, Si-Qi Hao, Xiu-Ru Qi et al. 2 citations
In patients at moderate-to-high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing painless gastroscopy, adding a low dose (0.25 mg/kg) of esketamine to propofol sedation may reduce dangerous oxygen drops (hypoxemia) compared to propofol alone. Esketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, is expected to lower the amount of propofol needed while keeping breathing more stable, and its side effects (like brief high blood pressure) should be mild. This single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial will enroll 294 adults with a STOP-Bang score of 3 or higher. The main outcome is the rate of hypoxemia (oxygen saturation below 90% for at least 10 seconds). The protocol aims to fill a gap in safer sedation for OSA patients.