Propofol - Anaesthesia

Abstract

'Propofol (Diprivan), a new intravenous induction agent, was studied in one hundred and sixty healthy unpremedicated patients undergoing short surgical procedure (<60 minutes). Mean duration of anaesthesia in this series was 30± 12 minutes. Propofol at the induction dose of 2.5mg/Kg was found to produce rapid and smooth onset of anaesthesia. Characteristics of concern at induction was pain on injection in 34.4%, of patients, transient apnea of 42.8%, and a significant fall in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at two minutes after induction (P<O.OOl) which was tolerable in the American Society of Anaesthesiologist class I and 11 patients included in this study. Immediate changes in pulse rate was insignificant (P> 0.1). Though patients in this series had supplemental Halothane apart from nitrous oxide and oxygen, early recovery phase as assessed by awakening and orientation times were rapid, but was affected by the duration of anaesthesia, age of the patient and use of opiods. Immediate post operative sequelae was minimal.