Insights into anesthesia administration for elderly individuals undergoing painless gastroenteroscopy: A bibliometric study

BACKGROUND Administering anesthesia to elderly patients undergoing gastroenteroscopy necessitates careful attention due to age-related physiological changes and an increased risk of complications. AIM To analyze the research trends in anesthesia management for elderly patients undergoing gastroenteroscopy. METHODS We performed a literature search using the Web of Science database to identify articles published between 2004 and 2023. Bibliometric and visual analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, R, and VOSviewer to explore the current research landscape of anesthesia administration in painless gastroenteroscopy for elderly patients and to identify future research directions by examining trends and emerging hotspots in this domain. RESULTS A total of 800 articles were examined, revealing a rising trend in annual publication counts. The United States led with 181 articles, followed by China with 112, collectively contributing over 35% of the studies among the top ten countries. The majority of publications appeared in the United States journals, with the top three being Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [impact factor (IF) = 7.7, H-index = 26], Digestive Diseases and Sciences (IF = 3.1), and Endoscopy (IF = 9.3). Six primary research clusters were identified: Obstructive sleep apnea and airway management, surveillance and risk factors, colorectal cancer examination and treatment, sedation and safety of propofol and midazolam, patient satisfaction, and mortality and complications. These findings underscore the pivotal focus areas in anesthesia for elderly patients undergoing gastroenteroscopy. CONCLUSION A comprehensive understanding of current research trends and hotspots will aid anesthesiologists in developing more evidence-based practices, thereby improving the safety and outcomes for elderly patients undergoing gastroenteroscopy.