ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Crucial to the success of fiberoptic awake tracheal intubation is proper preparation of the patient; this technique will work well in most patients when they are quiet and cooperative and have a larynx nonreactive to physical stimuli. We have attempted to ascertain how well these conditions are achieved with a low-dose infusion of propofol, because of its pharmacological profile. METHODS: Thirty patients, physical status by American Society of Anesthesiologists (A. S. A.) I-II, scheduled for oral and maxillofacial surgery, were randomly assigned to receive either propofol infusion 1 mg kg-1 h-1 preceded by a 1 mg kg-1 bolus (Group P) or intravenous fentanyl 1ug kg-1 and midazolam 0.05 mg kg-1 (Group F). These two groups were compared in terms of hemodynamic profile, sedation score, condition for intubation, coughing and swallowing. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in mean arterial blood pressures according to time between two groups. But in Group F, heart rates were significantly increased in immediately after transtracheal injection of lidocaine, immediately before the fiberoscopy was started, 1, 2 minutes after start of fiberoscopy, compared to Group P (p<0.05). The patients in Group P were more sedated than those in Group F (p<0.05) but there were no significant differences in condition for intubation, reflex of coughing and swallowing, duration of fiberoptic intubation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that propofol is useful sedative agent in fiberoptic awake intubation with similar efficacy to midazolam and fentanyl but with more profound sedation and stable hemodynamic profile. These represent significant advantages for severe anxious or hypertensive patients and prolonged procedure of intubation.