[robrn]

Librasun, Thanks for your support in the use of
propofol for sedation. I am a nurse that works at the
GI lab you described in southern Oregon. With proper
monitoring (EKG, SAO2, NIBP and ETCO2) Propofol is not
only safe but also very effective. For instance
narcotic using patients (we never see them) need large
amounts of narcotics and benzos just to control the
patient. If we are into an ERCP for 30 to 40 min
nothing is more frustrating then having a patient
twist and turn dislodging the cannula the MD just got
into the duct.
Our administration of propofol is small incremental
doses in which the patient’s airway is not compromised
and total comfort is achieved. I can’t say that
patients don’t desaturate but I haven’t noticed a
discernable difference in patients receiving propofol
as compared to Fentynl and Versed. Here we don’t just
use propofol, as the MD’s that do, must be
credentialed in deep sedation. Some of our MD’s are
not, and don’t use propofol so I have a pretty good
grasp on the use of both.
If we give our patient instructions prior to the
procedure with Versed there is a retrograde amnesia.
With propofol there is no retrograde amnesia, and as a
bonus the patient is wide-awake about 15 min. after
the last dose of propofol.
In conclusion propofol is safe and effective in the GI
lab setting when used by properly trained RN’s, MD’s
and well monitored here in southern Oregon we have
administered propofol to about 25,000 patients without
any adverse effects.
I encourage you to visit http://drnaps.org for more
Information about training and Nurse Administered
Propofol Sedation. Thanks again for your support.

[originalred]

We have been following the info and direction offered at drnaps.org. It is great to find a site where you are not threatened with legal action and called unsafe cowboys pushing anything, anywhere...

We too use propofol for thousands of cases a year and have had far less reactions to it than with versed, demerol...

And the reactions that were seen were handled by a well trained nurse and an ambu bag.

Someone needs to look at the science and change the wording on a piece of paper and resolve this "great debate" once and for all.

We MUST respect every drug we give. Aspirin can KILL. TYLENOL can kill. We do not see these drugs limited to those with 3 more years of education...