Assessment of propofol usefulness as an anesthetic agent during colonoscopy

ABSTRACT

Propofol is used as a sedative drug during colonoscopy. In this study we analyzed the adverse effects of propofol [i.e., hemodynamic and respiratory] on patients who underwent colonoscopies. This study was performed in Qom Province, Iran. In this study, 125 patients [63 females, 62 males] were enrolled. Study patients were administered [0.5-1.5 mg/kg] intravenous propofol by and anesthesiologist. Oxygen saturation and blood pressure were recorded at three minute intervals. We used the American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] classification to stratify patients by risk prior to the procedure. For statistical analysis, the chi-square and paired t-tests were used. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Patients' mean age was 45.36 +/- 16.19 years. ASA-I comprised 25.6% of study patients and 74.4% were categorized as ASA-II. Hypopnea occurred in 56.8% of patients and was prolonged in 32.4%. Of the study patients, 5.6% developed hypoxemia which was successfully controlled by the administration of nasal oxygen and no need for mechanical ventilation. The mean arterial blood pressure [p< 0.0001], oxygen saturation [p< 0.0001] and heart rate [p<0.0001] significantly decreased during colonoscopy. The occurrence of hypopnea significantly increased in patients with pre-procedure oxygen saturation levels /= 50 years [p< 0.0001] and ASA class II [p<0.0001] Agitation, hypotension and cough were seen in 1.6%, 1.6% and 0.8% of patients, respectively. Propofol has a short half life that enables faster recovery of normal neurologic and social functions we recommend the use of propofol under supervision of anesthesiologist or a trained gastroenterologist