Evaluation of diprivan as an intravenous anaesthetic induction agent: experiences in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Diprivan in its emulsion formulation as an intravenous induction agent was studied in 125 patients undergoing general anaesthesia for short duration, minor procedures, at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. The drug was found to be effective as it caused loss of consciousness in all the studied patients within 40 seconds when injected intravenously. The induction period was associated with pain at injection site in 31.2%, some muscle movements in 15.2% and hiccups in 8.8% of all the cases. There was a significant fall in mean arterial blood pressure in all the cases at two minutes after induction of anaesthesia with no observed concomitant changes in pulse rate