Patients

The randomization schedule was computer-generated by using Epical 2000 soft. According to the randomization schedule, all 210 patients were randomly divided into three groups (n = 70 in each group) in a 1:1:1 group allocation to receive either lidocaine (Group Lido, received system lidocaine, a bolus of 0.5 mg kg-1, iv), remimazolam (Group Remi, received remimazolam, a bolus of 0.1 mg kg-1, iv), or normal saline (Group NS, received equivalent volume of 0.9% normal saline). Sealed envelopes were used for concealment of study group allocation until the pretreatment drug was prepared. An assistor who did not participate in anesthesia induction prepared all drugs. Both patients and investigators were blinded to the randomized grouping allocation and the drugs.