Propofol Target-Controlled Infusion in Emergency Department Sedation

There exists continued controversy over the use of propofol in Emergency Department procedural sedation, this is despite its widespread existence in clinical practice for at least a decade. These concerns are not limited to the ED setting and are primarily related to the pharmacological properties of the drug itself and its potential for harm. The bolus administration of propofol, aimed at a target of sedation, offers several advantages over more traditional agents, yet these advantages are also its limitations. The use of a target-controlled infusion may provide the sedationist with greater control over the pharmacokinetics of propofol and thus reduce the rate of adverse incidents. This feasibility study aims to use a pragmatic design to test the safety and efficacy of propofol TCI whilst assessing the practicalities of it's use in the ED. If it proves to be feasible then the researchers plan to proceed to a multi centre pilot study to gather information to adequately power a larger randomised multi centre trial.