A Prototype Patient-Maintained Propofol Sedation System Using Target Controlled Infusion for Primary Lower-Limb...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Devices
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Many UK surgeries are performed with patients awake, requiring sedation to manage anxiety.
• Propofol is commonly administered via target-controlled infusion (TCI) devices by anesthesiologists.
• Current TCI methods face challenges in accurately dosing propofol, leading to over- or under-sedation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a patient-maintained propofol sedation (PMPS) system.
• To enable standard infusion pumps to function as TCI devices for improved sedation control.
• To provide a safe and effective alternative to anesthesiologist-controlled TCI.

Main Methods:

• A novel system was developed using a laptop with TCI software to control a standard infusion pump.
• The system was designed to deliver propofol sedation analogous to modern TCI pumps.
• The system underwent evaluation for safety and efficacy, leading to regulatory approval.

Main Results:

• The developed PMPS system successfully converted a standard infusion pump into a TCI device.
• Propofol consumption and dosage were within clinically acceptable tolerances compared to existing TCI devices.
• The system received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Conclusions:

• The presented PMPS system is a safe and viable alternative for awake surgery sedation.
• This innovation allows for further clinical trials to assess PMPS as a sedation method.
• The system enhances patient care by providing more precise and patient-controlled sedation during procedures.