[The use of propofol in short-term orthopedic surgery]

The use of propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia was investigated in 77 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery scheduled to last no longer than 1 h. General anaesthesia is induced with 2 mg X kg-1 propofol, and maintained with repeated bolus of half induction dose of propofol (given when anaesthesia is judged too light). Anaesthesia was successfully induced with the single dose of propofol 2 mg X kg-1 in 93% patients, the others needed additional bolus dose of 1 to 2 mg X kg-1. For maintenance, mean rate of propofol was 0.148 mg X kg-1 X min-1. The recovery time was 15 minutes after the last bolus of propofol. The most noticeable side effects were apnoea during induction (89%), and painful injection (35%). Propofol is a short acting intravenous anaesthetic devoided of serious side effect which appears very useful for day case surgery.