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Effect of 1% and 2% propofol on blood lipids during long-term sedation
Abstract
Objectives. To compare the effects of 1% and 2% propofol on the maximum and average lipid levels, the relative frequency of hyperlipidaemia, the propofol dose required to achieve an equivalent degree of sedation, the pharmacodynamic effects at the required infusion rates, and the effect on respiratory function.
Design. Open, randomised, parallel group, multicentre comparison study.
Setting. Intensive care units (ICUs) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch and at Vergelegen Medicity, Somerset West.
Subjects. Patients who were artificially ventilated for at least 72 hours in the ICUs and who required sedation or analgesia..
Outcome measures. Continuous intravenous infusion of 1% or 2% propofol to provide an administration rate in the range of 1 - 4 mg/kg/h. The initial infusion rate was about 2 mg/kg/h, adjusted to achieve the appropriate level of sedation.
Results and conclusions. Seventy-five patients were enrolled in the study, of which 72 were evaluable for safety analysis and 58 were evaluable for efficacy analysis. The total daily dose of propofol (ml/ day) in the 2% propofol group was about 60% of that in the 1% propofol group, indicating that the lipid load in the 2% propofol group had only slightly more than half the lipid load in the 1% propofol group. Thirteen of 27 patients (48%) in the 2% propofol group had abnormally