Assessment of propofol usefulness as an anesthetic agent during colonoscopy

BACKGROUND Propofol is used as a sedative drug during colonoscopy. In this study we analyzed the adverse effects of propofol (i.e., hemodynamic and respiratory) on patients who underwent colonoscopies. METHODS This study was performed in Qom Province, Iran. In this study, 125 patients (63 females, 62 males) were enrolled. Study patients were administered (0.5-1.5 mg/kg) intravenous propofol by an anesthesiologist. Oxygen saturation and blood pressure were recorded at three minute intervals. We used the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification to stratify patients by risk prior to the procedure. For statistical analysis, the chi-square and paired t-tests were used. A p -value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Patients' mean age was 45.36 ± 16.19 years. ASA-I comprised 25.6% of study patients and 74.4% were categorized as ASA-II. Hypopnea occurred in 56.8% of patients and was prolonged in 32.4%. Of the study patients, 5.6% developed hypoxemia which was successfully controlled by the administration of nasal oxygen and no need for mechanical ventilation. The mean arterial blood pressure (p < 0.0001), oxygen saturation (p < 0.0001) and heart rate (p < 0.0001) significantly decreased during colonoscopy. The occurrence of hypopnea significantly increased in patients with pre-procedure oxygen saturation levels ≤ 95% (p < 0.02), age <50 years (p < 0.0001) and ASA class II (p < 0.0001) Agitation, hypotension and cough were seen in 1.6%, 1.6% and 0.8% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Propofol has a short half life that enables faster recovery of normal neurologic and social functions we recommend the use of propofol under supervision of anesthesiologist or a trained gastroenterologist.