Is propofol ready for its close-up? Anesthesiologists have been answering a steady stream of questions about the safety and science behind the anesthetic drug ever since it’s been linked to the sudden death of pop star Michael Jackson last month.
Michael O’Connell, MD, founder and owner of PainCare Centers in Somersworth, N.H., says he and his staff have stepped up their efforts to ease concerns about propofol, since some of his patients have begun associating the drug with Mr. Jackson’s passing. "We want to put the word out that it is a very safe drug in skilled hands," he told a local newspaper.
Some anesthesiologists are taking to the airwaves to set the record straight about how and when the drug should be used, and to reassure people that propofol sedation is safe in the surgical setting, where patients are constantly being monitored.
In this interview with ABC News, Michael Roizin, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute explains that propofol use requires vigilant monitoring because a significant percentage of patients will stop breathing soon after it’s administered. He also notes that there is no evidence to support propofol’s application as a sleep aid, which is reportedly why Mr. Jackson was using the drug in his home.
—Irene Tsikitas
