Endoscopist-administered propofol: a retrospective safety study.

Background: Propofol is an anesthetic agent that is commonly used for conscious sedation. Propofol has advantages as a sedative agent for endoscopic procedures including rapid onset, short half-life and rapid recovery time. However, concerns exist regarding the potential for respiratory depression, hypotension, perforation due to deep sedation and the need for monitoring by an anesthetist.