Use in Outpatient Settings
Short term sedation with propofol is a frequent occurrence in outpatient settings across the nation in order to facilitate rapid performance of a number of minor procedures such as colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, magnetic resonance imaging, and others. An exhaled breath propofol monitor in this setting would be useful to provide additional information to individuals that are not used to caring for sedated individuals on a daily basis. That is, radiologists, gastroenterologists, and other non-anesthesia personnel may be superb in their respective specialty, but lack anesthetic skills of someone who administers anesthesia every day. This monitor may provide data to these non-anesthetists on the depth of patient sedation in order to prevent under-sedation or over-sedation during the procedure. Ideally, this propofol monitor would be coupled to capnometry or capnography to provide superior care.