Abstract

The increase in day-case surgery means that many patients go home from hospital having had a general anaesthetic on the same day. Propofol (Diprivan - ICI) is a short-acting intravenous anaesthetic for which the manufacturer claims recovery is faster and better than after other intravenous anaesthetic drugs, making it especially suitable for day cases. It can be used alone for induction and maintenance, or combined with standard maintenance anaesthetics.