[Use of Diprivan in addition to locoregional anesthesia]

During regional anaesthesia, sedation can be used to obviate any discomfort which is unrelated to a technical insufficiency of the block or a particular anxiety of the patient. Sedation increases the acceptability of the technique by the patient. The main characteristics of propofol are its short onset time of action, and the rapid reversibility of its effects after the end of its administration. For induction of anaesthesia, propofol is given as a bolus injection, an average dose being 10 to 20 mg. Maintenance is best achieved with a continuous infusion, at a rate of 3 to 4 mg.kg-1.h-1. Titration of propofol allows the ideal stage of sedation to be reached (MacKenzie Grade 3), followed by a fast recovery. Close monitoring of the patient is mandatory and should include clinical supervision and pulse oximetry in all cases.