Propofol Abuse Growing Problem for Anesthesiologists

That's right. At 12 hours, whatever is left in the bottle is tossed and replaced. Doesn't happen very often, except for those on low doses. Usually we change the tubing a little early, etc.

But, I have tossed a partially full bottle of propofol in the garbage before.

Question for our CRNAs:

What's this about aerosolized propofol? Just how much is actually excreted via lung, if any? And with the closed circuits of ventilators, how is this even an issue worth mentioning?

Dear NurseKitten:
It wouldn't be hard to slip an LMA in and bag him until he comes back breathing...hope they have suction and a pulse ox...NPO status is always a question....and yes it does sound like a pretty good TIVA until the propofol wears off (quickly), I just don't see them doing an infusion.... and then the danger of aspiration if there is an LMA in...as well as laryngospasm...and doubt if the at home doc knows what to do about that...maybe just an oral airway with some supplemental O2......and exactly WHAT training does this so called doc have?? I heard he was a cardiologist......and last time I checked, they don't get a lot of anesthesia training in their fellowship..........

Question for our CRNAs:

What's this about aerosolized propofol? Just how much is actually excreted via lung, if any? And with the closed circuits of ventilators, how is this even an issue worth mentioning?

Scary...isn't this the drug that's being mentioned in some news articles of Michael Jackson's death as something he MAY have been using for unremitting insomnia?

I always wondered about the poppy seed excuse....

Propofol - Ah yes....."Milk of Amnesia".

The aerosolization debate is a little puzzling to me, because all the patients that I administer Propofol to are intubated and on a vent. The vents have filters. Hmmm....

The hospital that I work at in California (as well as many surrounding hospitals) do not allow meds to be flushed down the drain anymore. We have oversized containers especially for medicine waste in order to have an alternative to the drain - too many fishes with extra eyeballs being found in the streams apparantly.

Propofol?
I dont' get it! I mean, it wears off in like, 36 seconds. How could it be used for insomnia?

And yep, we just toss it in the trash when we're done...I never thought of people abusing it. I mean, propofol?

Bizarre.