[Propofol anesthesia for a schizophrenic patient].

A 41-year-old man weighing 68 kg was scheduled for bilateral tonsillectomy because of palmoplantar pustulosis. The patient had been diagnosed as schizophrenic 10 years earlier. Psychotropic agents, mosapramine (75 mg.day-1), bromperidol (6 mg.day-1), cloxazolam (3 mg.day-1), biperiden (1 mg.day-1) and nitrazepam (5 mg as needed), were administered until the day before surgery. On the day of surgery, atropine (0.g mg) and midazolam (4 mg) were administered intramuscularly as premedication. Anesthesia was induced by intravenous propofol (120 mg) and fentanyl (100 microgram) followed by nasotracheal intubation using vecuronium (7 mg). Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of oxygen and nitrous oxide (2 l.min-1 each) and the intravenous infusion of propofol (5-10 mg.kg-1 x h-1) supplemented by fentanyl (100 microgram). The patient recovered from anesthesia uneventfully. Immediately after surgery, intravenous haloperidol (5 mg) and intramuscular biperiden (1 mg) were given. The daily oral administration of psychotropics was resumed on the first postoperative day. There were no complications such as hypotension, arrhythmia, or worsening of the mental condition, throughout the course.