Propofol sedation using Diprifusor™ target-controlled infusion in adult intensive care unit patients

This multicentre, non-comparative study investigated the range of target blood propofol concentrations required to sedate 122 adult intensive care patients when propofol was administered using Diprifusor(TM) target-controlled infusion systems together with opioid analgesia. Depth of sedation was assessed with a modified Ramsay score and the target blood propofol setting was adjusted to achieve the sedation desired for each patient. A desired level of sedation was achieved for 84% of the sedation period. In postcardiac surgery patients the median time-weighted average propofol target setting was 1.34 mug.ml(-1) (10th - 90th percentiles: 0.79-1.93 mug.ml(-1)). Values in brain injured and general ICU patients were 0.98 (10th - 90th percentiles: 0.60-2.55) mug.ml(-1) and 0.42 (10th - 90th percentiles: 0.16-1.19) mug.ml(-1), respectively. Measured propofol concentrations were generally close to values predicted by the Diprifusor(TM) system. Target settings in the range of 0.2-2.0 mug.ml(-1) are proposed for propofol sedation in this setting with titration as required in individual patients.