Genetic Differences in Propofol Pharmacodynamics in Children
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Propofol is an extensively utilized intravenous sedative and general anesthetic. However,
propofol has a narrow therapeutic index, and this means that there is only a small difference
in the dose required to produce loss of consciousness and the dose required to produce
potentially life-threatening effects such as loss of protective airway reflexes and cessation
of spontaneous breathing. Moreover, there is substantial variation between individuals in the
doses required to achieve these pharmacodynamic endpoints.
Given the inexorable rise in demand for pediatric sedation and the increasing use of propofol
in sedation protocols by non-anaesthesiologists, the purpose of this study is to refine the
propofol dosing recommendations to account for pharmacogenomic variability to make procedural
sedation safer for children. Experienced users already adjust for age and body weight. This
study may enable further refinements according to sex and - novelly - ancestry.