[Propofol for sedation during postoperative mechanical ventilation. A comparative study with Lytic Mixture].

Propofol infusion was found to provide excellent sedation and rapid recovery in intensive care. The present study compared Propofol with lytic solution (lytic solution = mixture of 100 mg Pethidine, 50 mg Promethazine and 0.6 mg Dihydroergotamine) during 6 hours of postoperative artificial ventilation. 60 patients after major abdominal surgical procedures were studied with ethical committee approval and informed consent. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either Propofol or lytic solution. We aimed at a sedation level of stage 5 according to the Ramsey score. The mean drug dosages were 3.9 mg/kg/h of Propofol and 4.2 ml/h of lytic solution. Hemodynamic values, blood gases as well as various biochemical measures did not show any difference between the groups. At the end of the sedation period triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in patients receiving Propofol (166 + 79 mg/dl) compared to the control group (97 + 60 mg/dl). Significant and relevant differences were found for the times of recovery after discontinuation of the sedative. These times were very short in the Propofol group. Furthermore, in view of a longer recovery time after lytic solution in this group the respiratory rate was significantly slower up to the end of the observation period. We conclude that a major advantage of Propofol in the present study was the rapid recovery after 6 hour sedation. Patients gain vigilance rapidly and sufficient spontaneous respiration within minutes. Not at least thanks to these facts patient's safety can be improved in the recovery period.