Multicenter evaluation of propofol for head-injured patients in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The present study was a multicenter, retrospective study which aimed to evaluate the efficacy of propofol, a new choice of pharmacotherapy in head-injured patients.


METHODS
Head-injured patients admitted to 3 hospitals during the period from January 2003 to December 2004 were included in this clinical trial. Data on patients' demographics, laboratory data, GCS score, ICP, CPP, concurrent medications, and therapeutic outcomes were collected.


RESULTS
Among the 104 patients included, only 44 were given propofol. The average age was 40.8 +/- 22 years for all patients, with 41.91 +/- 20.41 and 43.48 +/- 23.19 years for the propofol group and nonpropofol group, respectively (P=.097). There was no significant difference in baseline GCS score between the 2 groups (5.86 +/- 1.84 vs 5.66 +/- 1.59, P=.729). Mean ICP for the first 3 days in the ICU was 17.23 +/- 9.0 mm Hg in the propofol group and 33.19 +/- 32.56 in the nonpropofol group, respectively (P=.017). Mean CPP for the first 5 days in the ICU was 71.10 +/- 15.32 mm Hg in the propofol group and 43.20 +/- 29.92 mm Hg in the nonpropofol group (P<.001). A higher survival rate was found in the propofol group (81.8% vs 46.7%, P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that propofol improved the outcome in recovery phase of head-injured patients.
Chiu
Wen-Ta
WT
Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University-Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
Lin
Tien-Jen
TJ
Lin
Jia-Wei
JW
Huang
Sheng-Jean
SJ
Chang
Cheng-Kuei
CK
Chen
Hsiang-Yin
HY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D015742:Propofol