Propofol vs. Alfentanil for Moderate Procedural Sedation

Alfentanil is an ultrashort-acting opioid that induces analgesia for 7 to 9 minutes. In a single-blind (patient blinded), randomized, controlled trial, investigators at an urban county medical center compared alfentanil with propofol for procedural sedation when a moderate depth of sedation was targeted.

Depth of sedation was monitored by trained research assistants using the 5-point observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) score (deeper sedation is indicated by a lower score). Patients received opioids for pain relief before the procedure, but the study drugs were given at least 20 minutes after the last dose. Doses were 10 µg/kg for alfentanil and 1 mg/kg for propofol, followed by additional doses of half the initial bolus every…