propofol

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.