Propofol for sedation in a mentally retarded dental patient

A 21-yr-old mentally retarded and cardiovascularly compromised woman who required dental restorative work and extractions was admitted to our clinic. We had previously successfully sedated her with propofol and midazolam. In this case she was sedated with a 1% propofol solution administered initially at a rate of 8 mg/kg-hr. After 5 min, the infusion rate was lowered to 5 mg/kg-hr, and after the local anesthetic injection, was adjusted to 3 mg/kg-hr. After 15 min, the patient became restless, and the propofol infusion rate was again increased to 5 mg/kg-hr. The patient's airway was well maintained during the entire procedure; she remained well sedated, and no adverse effects were experienced.