Electroencephalograph variables, drug concentrations and sedation scores in children emerging from propofol infusion anaesthesia.

Background: Inadequate sedation or oversedation are common problems in Paediatric Intensive Care because of wide variations in drug response and the lack of objective tests for sedative depth. We undertook a pilot study to try to identify correlates of propofol drug concentration, electroencephalographic (EEG) variables and observed behaviour during a stepwise reduction in propofol infusion after paediatric cardiac surgery.

Methods: This was a prospective pilot study with 10 children (5 months to 8 years) emerging from propofol anaesthesia following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).