[Safety of gastroenterologist-directed propofol administration for endoscopic procedures: 10-year experience in a private clinic in Lima, Peru].

Objective: To evaluate safety of propofol combined with Meperidine and Midazolam in colonoscopies, upper endoscopies (EGD) and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) administered by a nurse supervised by a trained gastroenterologist. To compare the required doses of propofol among older and younger than 75 years old.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective descriptive study including patients 18 years of age and older who received propofol for EGD, colonoscopy (or EGD + colonoscopy) and EUS. The patients were given a baseline dose of Meperidine (25 mg) and Midazolam (1-3 mg) intravenously (IV). After 2-3 minutes, they received an IV bolus of propofol between 10-30 mg. Repeat boluses of 10-20 mg were administered at intervals no lesser than 60 seconds during the procedure, as needed according to patient`s tolerance to the procedure.

Results: Between September 2006 and September 2016, 9,704 procedures were performed, of which 1,598 were EGD, 3,065 colonoscopies, 2,492 EGD + colonoscopies and 57 EUS. There were 3,912 women (59.1%), and the average age was 57.1 ± 14.6 years. Eight hundred eighty (12.5%) were older than 75 years. The average dose of propofol for all the procedures was 83.2 ± 48.1 mg, for EGD and colonoscopy was 59.7 ± 36.2 mg and 77.2 ± 41 mg respectively. The average dose used in patients >75 years for EGD was 47.5 ± 37.8 mg, for colonoscopies 58.3 ± 33.4 mg and for EGD + colonoscopies was 78.7 ± 42.7 mg compared to patients <75 years in whom the average dose for EGD was 61.1 ± 35.8 mg (p<0.05), in colonoscopies was 80.5 ± 41.3 mg (p<0.05) and in EGD + colonoscopies 105.9 ± 50.2 mg (p<0.05). There were no sedation-related complications.

Conclusions: Propofol combined with meperidine and midazolam in endoscopic procedures directed by a trained gastroenterologist is safe. Elderly patients (>75 years old) required significantly less doses of propofol for EGD, colonoscopy, EGD/colonoscopy and EUS.