Effects of Remimazolam on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Aortic Arch Surgery

September 7, 2026 updated by: Youn Joung Cho, MD, PhD, Seoul National University Hospital

Effects of Remimazolam on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Aortic Arch Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to compare remimazolam- and propofol-based anesthesia for their effects on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing aortic arch surgery. These procedures involve a substantial risk of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, which may contribute to postoperative cognitive decline. Although experimental studies have suggested potential neuroprotective effects of remimazolam, clinical evidence in patients undergoing high-risk aortic arch surgery remains limited. This prospective, randomized controlled trial will compare the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction between patients receiving remimazolam- or propofol-based anesthesia. In addition, changes in circulating neuroinflammatory and neuronal injury biomarkers will be evaluated to explore the potential mechanisms underlying any neuroprotective effect of remimazolam. The findings may provide clinical evidence to guide anesthetic selection and improve neurological outcomes in patients undergoing aortic arch surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • South Korea
      • Seoul, South Korea, 03080
        • Seoul National University Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 19 years or older
  • Patients scheduled to undergo total or partial aortic arch replacement for aortic arch disease, with planned circulatory arrest and/or selective cerebral perfusion as a cerebral protection strategy during surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pre-existing cognitive impairment, defined as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score <24
  • Acute cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction within the previous 3 months
  • History of hypersensitivity to remimazolam or other benzodiazepines
  • History of alcohol or substance abuse
  • Chronic use of opioids or benzodiazepines
  • Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C)
  • Acute or chronic renal failure requiring dialysis Emergency surgery or acute aortic dissection

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Remimazolam group
Remimazolam Besylate (2mg/mL)
Drug: Remimazolam Besylate
- Continuous drug: remimazolam diluted to 2 mg/mL in normal saline - Maintenance: 1-2 mg/kg/h (titrated to BIS 40-60, max 2 mg/kg/h)
Experimental: Propofol group
Propofol (20mg/mL)
Drug: propofol
Continuous drug: propofol (undiluted, 20 mg/mL) - Administration: target-controlled infusion (TCI, Marsh model) - Maintenance: 1-1.5 μg/mL (titrated to BIS 40-60)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of postoperative cognitive decline
Time Frame: Preoperative baseline to postoperative day 7 or before hospital discharge
Postoperative cognitive function will be assessed using the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). Both assessments will be performed preoperatively and again on postoperative day 7 or before hospital discharge. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction will be defined as a decrease of ≥2 points from the preoperative baseline score in either the K-MMSE or MoCA-K.
Preoperative baseline to postoperative day 7 or before hospital discharge

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in plasma neuroinflammatory and neuronal injury biomarkers
Time Frame: Preoperative baseline through 24 hours after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass
Plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10), the neuroinflammatory mediator high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and the neuronal injury biomarker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) will be measured and compared between the remimazolam and propofol groups. IL-1β and TNF-α will be measured at preoperative baseline and 2-4 hours after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass; IL-6, IL-10, and GFAP will be measured at preoperative baseline and 24 hours after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass; and HMGB1 will be measured at preoperative baseline, 2-4 hours, and 24 hours after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass. Changes in biomarker concentrations over time will be compared between the two groups.
Preoperative baseline through 24 hours after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of postoperative delirium
Time Frame: Preoperative baseline to postoperative day 7 or before hospital discharge
Postoperative delirium will be assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). The incidence of postoperative delirium will be compared between the remimazolam and propofol groups.
Preoperative baseline to postoperative day 7 or before hospital discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Seoul National University Hospital

Collaborators

Hana Pharm Co., Ltd.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 7, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Arch_RMZ vs PPF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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