Remimazolam sedation with regional anesthesia in difficult airway due to huge thyroid goiter: A case report.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE Remimazolam, a novel benzodiazepine, is known to have less respiratory depression compared to other anesthetic agents, and it also has a reversal agent that can be used in emergency situations. Remimazolam with these characteristics can be usefully utilized in the anesthetic management of patients with difficult airway. PATIENT CONCERNS A 78-year-old female patient was scheduled proximal humerus fracture surgery. The patient occasionally complained dyspnea and had multiple comorbidities including thyroid goiter, dementia, and delirium. DIAGNOSES The patient had a large thyroid goiter compressing and deviating the trachea. A short neck with increased circumference was confirmed. A difficult airway was anticipated in the preanesthetic evaluation. INTERVENTIONS: Sedation with remimazolam followed by regional anesthesia was performed for the surgery. OUTCOMES: The surgery was completed without complications. The patient recovered and was discharged on 15th postoperative days. LESSONS The use of remimazolam for sedation may be an appropriate option in the anesthetic management of patients with difficult airway.