Article Text

Download PDFPDF
The use of propofol for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department: a comparison with midazolam
  1. Nik H N A Rahman1,
  2. Ahmad Hashim2
  1. 1Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
  2. 2Department of Emergency and Trauma, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Associate Professor Dr Nik H N A Rahman, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, USM, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia; nhliza{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Introduction This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of propofol as an alternative agent for procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in the emergency department (ED) and to make a comparison between two different sedative (propofol vs midazolam) drugs used in combination with fentanyl.

Objectives To compare outcomes between a combination of fentanyl and propofol with fentanyl and midazolam in patients during and after PSA.

Methodology A randomised single blinded control trial carried out in the ED of a university hospital. 40 patients were randomly allocated equally into two groups: group A, 20 subjects received intravenous fentanyl 3 μg/kg as a bolus dose and a titration maximum bolus dose of propofol 1 mg/kg followed by a maximum titration top-up of 0.5 mg/kg if needed; group B, 20 subjects received intravenous fentanyl 3 μg/kg as a bolus dose and a titration maximum bolus dose of midazolam 0.1 mg/kg and a maximum titration top-up of 0.1 mg/kg if needed. The target sedation level was a Ramsay score of 3 or 4. Outcomes included the presence of any adverse events related to PSA and time to discharge. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups.

Results None of the patients developed any significant adverse events during and after procedures. The mean length of stay in the propofol and midazolam groups was 29.25 (11.03) and 71.75 (60.64) min, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusion Both propofol and midazolam given at the recommended doses were equally safe and effective for PSA in the ED. The propofol group was discharged much earlier than to the midazolam group.

  • Analgesia/pain control

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Funding This study was conducted by the use of a short-term grant provided by the medical school of Universiti Sains Malaysia, registered under JKP/PPSP/USM/06.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the Research and Ethics Committee, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.