Background: Our aim was to investigate the current patterns of propofol use in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the UK and North America.
Methods: An electronic questionnaire was sent to all PICUs in the UK and those units offering PICU training fellowships in the USA and Canada.
Results: We received responses from 15 UK units (75%) and 33 units in North America (52%). Of units who responded, 47% of UK units used propofol for ongoing sedation, compared with 61% of North American units. Units tended to use propofol in defined clinical circumstances, in limited doses, in older children and for relatively short periods. Propofol was used for sedation during procedures in 100% of units although 35% of UK units said that they would use it less frequently in this setting than in the past. Only 18% of North American Units reported that they would be less likely to use propofol for procedures than in the past.
Conclusions: Despite clear guidance from the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines, propofol was still used for ongoing sedation in 47% of UK PICUs responding to our questionnaire. Reasons for this include the utility of the agent and its licensing for use in maintaining anesthesia in children over 3 years, but not for sedation in PICU in similar doses, for similar periods, in the same group of children.