Blood propofol concentration and psychomotor effects on driving skills.
We studied psychomotor performance in 10 healthy volunteers during recovery after a target-controlled infusion of propofol. Choice reaction time, dual task tracking with secondary reaction time and a within-list recognition task were assessed at target blood propofol concentrations of 0.8, 0.4 and 0.2 microgram ml-1. Performance was impaired most at the highest blood propofol concentration (choice reaction time increased by a mean of 247 ms and secondary reaction time by a mean of 178 ms). Choice reaction time and dual task tracking with secondary reaction time were the most sensitive and reliable methods of assessment (significant difference from baseline (P < 0.05) at a propofol concentration of 0.2 microgram ml-1 with choice and secondary reaction time testing). Within-list recognition assessment of memory was not sufficiently sensitive at very low propofol concentrations. The impairment in choice and secondary reaction time with a blood propofol concentration of 0.2 microgram ml-1 was less than that observed with a blood alcohol concentration of 50 mg 100 ml-1 and no greater than that observed with a blood alcohol concentration of 20 mg 100 ml-1 in a previous study involving healthy volunteers.
Grant
S A
SA
Glasgow University Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Infirmary, UK.
Murdoch
J
J
Millar
K
K
Kenny
G N
GN
D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D015742:Propofol / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol