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A Lethal Complication of Propofol

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
¹ Department of Nephrology
² Department of Pulmonology
³ Department of Cardiology, Memorial Hospital, Belleville, USA

For reprint information contact: Hon Chi Suen, MD Tel: 1 618 233 5722 Fax: 1 618 233 7069 Email: HSUEN{at}earthlink.net, Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates, S.C., 12B Park Place, Swansea, IL 62226, USA

High-dose propofol infusion for sedation of patients in the intensive care unit can result in rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, ventricular arrhythmia, hyperthermia, and death. The death of a patient with such complications after lung biopsy is reported. Until a safer dosage range has been determined, propofol infusion at rates higher than 5 mg·kg^–1·h^–1 should be discouraged for long-term sedation (> 48 h).