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Current patterns of propofol use in PICU in the United Kingdom and North America

Stephen D Playfor1, K Venkatesh

  • 1Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester, UK. stephen.playfor@ccmc.nhs.uk

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|May 22, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Propofol is still used for sedation in many UK pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), despite safety guidance. North American PICUs report higher propofol use for sedation and procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Investigating current propofol utilization in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across the UK and North America.
  • Assessing patterns of use for sedation and during procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To understand contemporary propofol prescribing practices in pediatric intensive care settings.
  • To identify variations in propofol use between UK and North American PICUs.

Main Methods:

  • Electronic questionnaire distributed to all UK PICUs and North American units offering PICU training fellowships.
  • Response rates: 75% for UK units and 52% for North American units.

Main Results:

  • 47% of UK PICUs and 61% of North American PICUs reported using propofol for ongoing sedation.
  • Propofol was universally used for procedural sedation (100%), though UK units indicated a trend towards less frequent use.
  • Usage was generally limited to specific clinical scenarios, lower doses, older children, and shorter durations.

Conclusions:

  • Despite UK safety guidelines, propofol remains in use for ongoing sedation in nearly half of surveyed UK PICUs.
  • The drug's utility and existing licensing for anesthesia maintenance in children over 3 contribute to its continued use, despite not being formally licensed for PICU sedation in similar contexts.
  • Differences in reported use between UK and North American PICUs highlight varying clinical practices and potential guideline adherence.
Abstract

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