Safety of non-anaesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation in ERCP

Background and study aims: Propofol is increasingly being used for sedation purposes during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This study aimed to evaluate the safety of non-anaesthesiologist administration of propofol (NAAP) during therapeutic ERCP. Patients and methods: Patients, who underwent ERCP at Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, were included in the study. Propofol sedation was administered by a physician who was a non-anaesthesiologist certified in basic and advanced cardiac life support. The total study duration was 6 months. The primary outcome variable was the frequency of any sedation-related complication. Results: A total of 156 patients (41% males and 59% females) were enrolled in the study. The mean propofol dose used during the procedure was 201 +/- 132 mg. The mean propofol dose, when adjusted to weight and duration of procedure, was 0.05 +/- 0.04 mg kg (1) min (1). According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, 136 (87%) patients were placed in ASA class I and II and 20 (13%) patients were of ASA class III. Only two patients developed sedation-related complication: one minor requiring bag-mask ventilation and other major requiring mechanical ventilation via endotracheal intubation. Both were managed by the trained non-anaesthesiologist and gastroenterologist at the place of procedure. No patients required cardiopulmonary resuscitation and admission to the intensive care unit. There were no sedation-related deaths. Conclusion: NAAP sedation can be considered safe for low-risk patients (ASA class I and II) undergoing ERCP. The presence of a trained anaesthetist is advisable in high-risk patients (ASA class III and higher) with significant co-morbidities. (C) 2014 Arab Journal of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.