How is propofol typically administered as an induction agent?

How is propofol typically administered as an induction agent?

• A. Given IV slowly to achieve unconsciousness and loss of jaw tone; rapid administration can cause apnea and CVS depression
• B. Given orally in a single bolus
• C. Given IM to avoid apnea
• D. Topically applied to airway

Answer: (A)

Propofol is a fast-acting IV hypnotic used to induce anesthesia, so it’s given through an IV and titrated slowly until the patient loses consciousness and jaw tone. This careful, incremental dosing lets you gauge depth of anesthesia and avoid overshooting into deep anesthesia, which reduces the risk of apnea and cardiovascular depression. If propofol is injected rapidly, the risk of apnea and CVS depression increases because the drug’s effects on respiration and blood pressure are more abrupt. Other routes aren’t used for induction because oral administration has poor and unpredictable bioavailability, intramuscular delivery is too slow and unreliable for timely airway control, and topical application won’t reliably produce the deep hypnosis needed for induction.

Propofol is a fast-acting IV hypnotic used to induce anesthesia, so it’s given through an IV and titrated slowly until the patient loses consciousness and jaw tone. This careful, incremental dosing lets you gauge depth of anesthesia and avoid overshooting into deep anesthesia, which reduces the risk of apnea and cardiovascular depression. If propofol is injected rapidly, the risk of apnea and CVS depression increases because the drug’s effects on respiration and blood pressure are more abrupt. Other routes aren’t used for induction because oral administration has poor and unpredictable bioavailability, intramuscular delivery is too slow and unreliable for timely airway control, and topical application won’t reliably produce the deep hypnosis needed for induction.