Sub anesthetic dose of propofol in eye surgery

ABSTRACT

To examine the efficacy and safety of sub-anesthetic dose of propofol for reducing patient awareness during peribulbar anesthesia in eye surgery. This study was conducted on 400 patients scheduled for elective cataract surgery at King Hussein Medical Center between August 2004 and May 2005 using peribulbar anesthesia. Patients were allocated to two groups. Two hundred patients received 0.5mg/kg propofol [group P] and the rest of patients didn't receive any sedation [group N]. Vital signs were monitored with continuous pulse oximetry and blood pressure measurements. Efficacy of sedation was assessed by recording patient recall of peribulbar block after 10 minutes of injection. Propofol was effective in reducing recall in 80% of patients in-group P. No major side effects were encountered. Propofol is safe and efficacious in reducing recall of anesthetic injection without major side effects