• Naoki Tanaka, Akira Horiuchi, Yoshiko Nakayama, Yoshihiko Katsuyama, Masatsugu Isobe, Toshifumi Aoyama, Eiji Tanaka, and Shigeru Ohmori.
• Department of Metabolic Regulation, Institute on Aging and Adaptation, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Shinshu, Japan.
• Dig. Dis. Sci. 2013 May 1;58(5):1383-9.

BackgroundEffective and safe sedation for patients with liver cirrhosis is problematic.AimTo examine the safety and effectiveness of low-dose propofol sedation during and after esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in cirrhotic patients.MethodsStudy 1 was a prospective study in cirrhotic patients who underwent diagnostic EGD under propofol sedation. Propofol was given by bolus injection with an age-adjusted standard protocol consisting of 40 mg for patients <70 years, 30 mg for patients aged 70-89 years; additional injections of 20 mg propofol were given up to a maximum of 120 mg. The principal parameter was the occurrence of adverse events within 24 h after EGD. Secondary parameters included successful procedures, complications, and full recovery within 60 min. In Study 2, the residual effects of propofol were evaluated using a driving simulator and blood propofol concentrations in a subset of cirrhotic patients undergoing EGD and compared with healthy individuals. The principal parameter was driving ability.ResultsStudy 1: Consecutive cirrhotic patients were entered and all 163 successfully completed EGD. The mean dose of propofol was 46 mg (range 30-120 mg). No complications occurred. Full recovery had occurred in 100 % 60 min after the procedure. No adverse events occurred within 24 h after EGD. Study 2: There were no significant differences in blood propofol levels between cirrhotic patients (n = 21) and healthy individuals (n = 20) after sedation. In cirrhotic patients, there was no deterioration in driving ability as compared with healthy individuals.ConclusionLow-dose propofol sedation provided safe and effective sedation for EGD in cirrhotic patients with rapid recovery.

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