Propofol improves patient comfort during cisplatin chemotherapy. A pilot study.

20 consecutive patients with nausea and vomiting secondary to cisplatin chemotherapy uncontrolled by serotonin-antagonist and corticosteroid prophylaxis during their first cycle received adjuvant propofol. This new anesthetic agent was added at subhypnotic doses, i.e. 1 mg/kg/h, as a continuous intravenous infusion during the two subsequent chemotherapy cycles. In 85 and 90% of patients, nausea and vomiting were prevented in the first 24 h following the first and second propofol-supplemented chemotherapy cycles respectively. 24-72 h postchemotherapy, this side effect remained suppressed in 75 and 70% of patients, respectively. Patients' comfort and appetite were improved. All 20 subjects preferred the propofol-containing regimen.