Conscious sedation by low dose propofol infusion during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section

A simple sedative technique without inducing oversedation or amnesia for birth experience would be necessary for patients undergoing Cesarean section receiving regional anesthesia. Clinical effects and dose requirement of intravenous propofol infusion were evaluated for this purpose.

Forty-five parturients under adequate spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to three groups and propofol was given after the clamping of the umbilical cord. The loading doses and initial infusion rates for group A, B, C were 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mg/kg and 3, 4, 5 mg/kg/h, respectively.

Oversedation was not found and verbal contact was maintained in patients of group A and B. Two patients in group C were oversedated. Cardiovascular and respiratory function remained stable in all three groups. The incidences of complete amnesia for the experience of baby shown and intraoperative nausea/ vomiting were low. Most patients were satisfied with the sedation technique.

Intravenous infusion of propofol with a rate of 3-4 mg/kg/h after 0.3-0.4 mg/kg bolus injection is a sale, simple and satisfactory intraoperative postdelivery sedation technique in elective patients undergoing Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.