Emergency physician-administered propofol sedation: a report on 25,433 sedations from the pediatric sedation research consortium.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We describe the adverse events observed in a large sample of children sedated with propofol by emergency physicians and identify patient and procedure characteristics predictive of more serious adverse events.

METHODS: We identified sedations performed by emergency physicians using propofol as the primary sedative, included in the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium database from July 2004 to September 2008. We describe the characteristics of the patients, procedures, location, adjunctive medications, and adverse events. We use a multivariable logistic regression model to identify predictors of more serious adverse events.

RESULTS: Of 25,433 propofol sedations performed by emergency physicians, most (76%) were performed in a radiology department. More serious adverse events occurred in 581 sedations (2.28%; 95% confidence interval 2.1% to 2.5%). There were 2 instances of aspiration, 1 unplanned intubation, and 1 cardiac arrest. Significant predictors of serious adverse events were weight less than or equal to 5 kg, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification greater than 2, adjunctive medications (benzodiazepines, ketamine, opioids, or anticholinergics), nonpainful procedures, and primary diagnoses of upper respiratory illness or prematurity.

CONCLUSION: We observed a low adverse event prevalence in this largest series of propofol sedations by emergency physicians. Factors indicating greater risk of more serious adverse events are detailed.