Setting targets for sedation with a target-controlled propofol infusion

✍ Scribed by P. R. M. Janzen; W. J. Hall; P. M. Hopkins

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 111 KB
• Volume: 55
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2000.01534.x

✦ Synopsis

We studied 30 unpremedicated patients undergoing muscle biopsy under femoral nerve block to determine sedation levels reached with a Diprifusor® target‐controlled propofol infusion, in order to establish the equivalent of the ED~50~ for different levels of depth of sedation. Infusion was started at 0.8 µg.ml^−1^ and altered by increments of 0.1 µg.ml^−1^ after equilibrium between target and calculated concentrations, until the desired level of sedation was reached. The ED~50~ target propofol concentrations for sedation at sedation levels 2 (drowsy), 3 (drowsy, responds to verbal stimulation) and 4 (responsive to physical stimulation only) were 1.0 µg.ml^−1^, 1.6 µg.ml^−1^ and 2.1 µg.ml^−1^, respectively. At sedation level 3, several patients exhibited spontaneous movement, hindering surgery. Oxygen supplementation is recommended for sedation at level 4.