Propofol

Course Summary

Propofol is a short-acting intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent that is used in surgical patients as part of general anesthesia and in Intensive Care Unit patients to provide continuous sedation. Propofol was approved for use in the United States in 1989, and has become a popular and widely used drug. There is rapid onset of action, short half-life, and a dose-related hypnotic effect. Propofol is an ideal drug for short-term sedation because its sedative effects are rapidly reversible. It may also be used in Intensive Care Unit patients for long-term sedation. These attributes make it a drug of choice to help alleviate anxiety and promote patient comfort during critical procedures (neurological procedures, and for patients on mechanical ventilation), testing (i.e., imaging studies), and frequent assessments. Unlike other agents, it does not accumulate in patients diagnosed with renal or hepatic disease.