[Propofol intravenous anesthesia for intra-arterial catheterization in cancer patients]

Thirty cancer patients scheduled for intra-arterial catheterization for chemotherapy were premedicated with pethidine 1 mg/kg atropine 0.807 mg/kg and prochlorperazine 5 mg intramuscularly. Anesthesia was induced with 2 mg/kg propofol and maintained with continuous infusion of propofol at a rate of 12 mg/kg/h. Patients breathed room-air spontaneously through the whole course of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with 2 mg/kg propofol in all patients, then maintained successfully by using a mean infusion rate of 12.13 +/- 0.43 mg/kg/h propofol. They lost consciousness within 29.60 +/- 5.50 second. Two minutes after induction, there were significantly decreased in systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, stroke volume and cardiac output but heart rate did not change significantly. Blood pressure and cardiac output remained stable but lower than pre-anesthetic values during the rest of the anesthetic course. Arterial blood gas analysis confirmed the respiratory depression. Two minutes after induction, there were significantly decreased in PaO2, SaO2 and pH were noted. PaCO2 was increased significantly. Recovery from the anesthesia was rapid and uneventful. The average time required for the patients to sustain eye-opening and to answer questions were 9.20 +/- 1.79 min and 10.73 +/- 1.87 min respectively after discontinuing propofol injection. Transient restlessness occurred in one patient. No other post-operative complications were noted.