Profiling adverse respiratory events and vomiting when using propofol for emergency department procedural sedation

Authors: Bell, Anthony; Treston, Greg; McNabb, Charley; Monypenny, Kathy; Cardwell, Robert

Source: Emergency Medicine Australasia, Volume 19, Number 5, October 2007 , pp. 405-410(6)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

Objectives: 

To evaluate the rate of adverse respiratory events and vomiting among ED patients undergoing procedural sedation with propofol. Methods: 

This was a prospective, observational series of patients undergoing procedural sedation. Titrated i.v. propofol was administered via protocol. Fasting status was recorded. Results: 

Four hundred patients undergoing sedation were enrolled. Of these 282 (70%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 66-75%) had eaten or drunken within 6 and 2 h, respectively. Median fasting times from a full meal, snack or drink were 7 h (interquartile range [IQR] 5-9 h), 6 h (IQR 4-8 h) and 4 h (IQR 2-6 h), respectively. Overall a respiratory event occurred in 86 patients (22%, 95% CI 18-26%). An airway intervention occurred in 123 patients (31%, 95% CI 26-35%). In 111 cases (90%, 95% CI 60-98%) basic airway manoeuvres were all that was required. No patients were intubated. Two patients vomited (0.5%, 95% CI 0.0-1.6%), one during sedation, one after patient became conversational. One patient developed transient laryngospasm (0.25%, 95% CI 0-1.2%) unrelated to vomiting. There were nil aspiration events (0%, 95% CI 0-0.74%). Conclusions: 

Seventy per cent of patients undergoing ED procedural sedation are not fasted. No patient had a clinically evident adverse outcome. Transient respiratory events occur but can be managed with basic airway interventions making propofol a safe alternative for emergency physicians to provide emergent procedural sedation.

Keywords: conscious sedation; emergency medicine; fasting; propofol; respiratory therapy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2007.00982.x

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