Patient-controlled sedation (PCS) has been known for a safe and effective sedative method on the same pharmacological concepts of patient-controlled analgesia. Many different kinds of infusion devices have been used but they often have too long nominal infusion rate and lockout time. Perfuser® fm (B. Braun, Germany) is a new PCA device with 999.9 ml/hr nominal infusion rate and minimum 1 min lockout time. In this study, the feasibility of propofol PCS using Perfuser® fm was examined in order to provide a safe satisfactory sedation for dental patients.

Eleven healthy patients presenting for oral surgery were studied. Propofol PCS was performed using Perfuser® fm, which was set to deliver a bolus dose of 5 mg with 999.9 ml/hr nominal infusion rate and 1 min lockout time. Propofol loading dose was randomly assigned to a bolus dose × 0, 2, and 3 (initial bolus). Patients were told to press the bolus button as often as they needed to relieve discomfort.

Total infused dose of propofol was mean 1.8 mg/kg/hr and D (Delivery)/A (Attempt) ratio was mean 72.8%. All patients was awake and there were no clinically significant intraoperative side effects during the sedation. Almost all patients were very satisfied with this type of PCS.

Propofol PCS using Perfuser® fm infusion pump provided good conscious sedation for dental procedures.