RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This research was conducted in order to study the clinical usefulness and stability of the propofol used for sedation during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. METHODS: The objective of this research was to study one hundred patients, who were chosen based upon their preference to be examined through diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy accompanied with propofol from July 1998 to August 1998, and who showed normality in the pulmonary function test and ECG. The elements observed were hemodynamic variations, injection dosage, injection time, recovery time and side effects. RESULTS: All patatints had no recollection of the procedure during gastrointestinal endoscopy. It was found that the older the patients were, the less amount of propofol sleep was indued. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and the mean arterial blood pressure were lowered noticeably after sleep, compared with those before the injection of propofol, while the heart rate hardly changed. CONCLUSIONS: Profopol is believed to be a useful sedative for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. As blood pressre can be lowered however, a cautious attitude should be considered when injecting propofol in the elderly or in patients who have cardiovascular disease.