PROPOFOL

History

Propofol is the most frequently used intravenous anesthetic today. Work in the early 1970s on substituted derivatives of phenol with hypnotic properties resulted in the development of 2,6-diisopropofol.^[2] The first clinical trial, reported by Kay and Rolly^[3] in 1977, confirmed the potential of propofol as an anesthetic induction agent. Propofol is insoluble in water and was therefore initially prepared with Cremophor EL (BASF A.G.). Because of anaphylactoid reactions associated with Cremophor EL in this early formulation of propofol,^[4] the drug was reformulated as an emulsion. Propofol is used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia, as well as for sedation in and outside the operating room.