Safety and Efficacy of Different Sedation Regimens in Pediatric Diagnostic Gastroscopy: A Retrospective Controlled Study

Abstract

To compare the safety and efficacy of propofol monotherapy and midazolam combined with propofol for sedation in pediatric diagnostic gastroscopy, providing evidence for optimizing clinical sedation protocols. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 children aged 3 to 14 years who underwent gastroscopy at our Digestive Endoscopy Center between January 2022 and June 2024. Based on the sedation regimen used, patients were categorized into 2 groups: the propofol group (n = 78, sedated with propofol alone) and the combination group (n = 84, sedated with midazolam and propofol). Baseline characteristics, sedation efficacy, recovery parameters, intra-procedural vital signs, incidence of adverse reactions, use of sedative drugs, and procedure-related times were compared between the 2 groups. Propofol monotherapy offers rapid recovery, less impact on vital signs, and improved turnover efficiency, making it a potentially more suitable sedation strategy for pediatric diagnostic gastroscopy in clinical practice.