Propofol ('Diprivan') for continuous intravenous anaesthesia. A comparison with methohexitone.

The properties of propofol in emulsion given by continuous intravenous infusion to spontaneously breathing patients have been studied. Forty premedicated patients were anaesthetized with propofol infusion supplemented by nitrous oxide in oxygen. Induction and maintenance were uniformly smooth with no excitatory effects. Dose-related cardiovascular and respiratory depression allowed easy control of anaesthetic depth by adjusting the infusion rate. The mean duration of infusion was 51 min and the mean infusion rate 0.26 mg/kg/min. Recovery times were clinically acceptable and complications minimal. An attempted comparative study involving the use of methohexitone was abandoned after 10 cases when the latter agent proved unsuitable for use in this manner. The findings suggest that propofol may well be the agent of choice for continuous intravenous anaesthesia.