The impact of needle size and angle on rubber coring after multiple puncturing of multi-dose propofol vial rubber stoppers.

Background: Multiple puncturing of the rubber stoppers of multi-doses vials can produce a rubber core. Propofol is one of the multi-dose anesthesia frequently used for sedation and induction of general anesthesia, and a previous study reported a high incidence of rubber coring in propofol vials but no study has yet reported the factors that affect rubber coring.

Objective: To investigate the variables which have an impact on rubber core contamination after the puncturing of rubber stoppers of multi-dose propofol vials using various sizes of needles and different angles of piercing.