title: Severity and duration of mental deficiency symptoms after intravenous administration of propofol.
abstract: The severity and duration of cognitive performance capacity deficits after intravenous administration of propofol were determined using the validated psychological test procedure syndrome short test (SKT), a simple reaction test and original driving licence exam questions. The test battery was performed before, immediately after, as well as 1 and 2 h after propofol administration in 23 persons. Immediately after propofol anaesthesia, six individuals had a slight performance loss, and four subjects showed mild deficits, consistent with medium organic neuropsychologic disorder or dementia. The status of the subjects rapidly changed for the better, and 2 h after propofol anaesthesia, only one person (4%) showed slight deficits of memory and attention. Therefore, it is suggested that patients refrain from any participation in road traffic for at least 2 h after propofol anaesthesia. Driving a car should not be admitted until an interval of 6 h has elapsed.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Forensic Medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsstrasse 22, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. stephan.seidl@recht.med.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neisser
authors.forename: H-D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Janisch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol