Korean J Intern Med.  2014 Jan;29(1):57-65. 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.1.57.

Is propofol safe when administered to cirrhotic patients during sedative endoscopy?

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea. gudwns21@medimail.co.kr
  • 2Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
In patients with liver cirrhosis, drugs acting on the central nervous system can lead to hepatic encephalopathy and the effects may be prolonged. Recently, misuse of propofol has been reported and the associated risk of death have become an issue. Propofol is commonly used during sedative endoscopy; therefore, its safety in high-risk groups must be further investigated. We performed a pilot study of the safety and efficacy of propofol during endoscopy in Korean patients with cirrhosis.
METHODS
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed under sedation with propofol along with careful monitoring in 20 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 control subjects. The presence or development of hepatic encephalopathy was assessed using the number connection test and neurologic examination.
RESULTS
Neither respiratory depression nor clinically significant hypotension were observed. Immediate postanesthetic recovery at 5 and 10 minutes after the procedure was delayed in the cirrhotic patients compared with the control group; however, at 30 minutes, the postanesthetic recovery was similar in both groups. Baseline psychomotor performance was more impaired in cirrhotic patients, but propofol was not associated with deteriorated psychomotor function even in cirrhotic patients with a minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
CONCLUSIONS
Sedation with propofol was well tolerated in cirrhotic patients. No newly developed hepatic encephalopathy was observed.

Keyword

Propofol; Sedative endoscopy; Hepatic encephalopathy; Liver cirrhosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
*Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
Female
Hepatic Encephalopathy/chemically induced
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives/*adverse effects
*Liver Cirrhosis
Male
Middle Aged
Propofol/*adverse effects
Republic of Korea
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Propofol
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