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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2000, Vol. 85, No. 3 396-400
© 2000 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Blood propofol concentration and psychomotor effects on driving skills

S. A. Grant1,3,*, J. Murdoch1, K. Millar2 and G. N. C. Kenny1

1Glasgow University Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Infirmary, 8–16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK. 2University Department of Psychological Medicine, Division of Behavioral Sciences, Academic Centre, Gartnaval Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK 3Present address: Division of Ambulatory Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA

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 µg 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 µg 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 µg 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.

Br J Anaesth 2000; 85: 396–400

* Corresponding author


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