'Diprifusor' for general and day-case surgery

Abstract

Total intravenous anaesthesia may be most beneficial for day-case surgery with regard to quality of recovery, lack of complications and the ability to sustain an efficient throughput of patients. However, the technique can be applied to all forms of surgery and, with a little practice, consistent results will be achieved. Computerised infusion pumps can be programmed to provide a target blood concentration that can be easily varied to alter the anaesthetic state. The commercially available 'Diprifusor', a target controlled infusion system for propofol, can facilitate the more widespread use of total intravenous techniques and allow their potential benefits to be applied and appreciated more widely. This review outlines some practical considerations that should enable a more confident approach to total intravenous techniques by anaesthetists who are unfamiliar with them.