Will societies of anesthesiologists partake in the take-off of non-anesthesiologist administration of propofol?

Abstract

Propofol sedation is increasingly used for standard and advanced endoscopies due to its advantages over traditional sedation based on benzodiazepines and/or opioids. These include a better sedation, greater patient cooperation, and higher patient satisfaction for most endoscopic procedures; it also decreases time to sedation and decreases recovery and discharge times. As anesthesiologists have typically provided propofol-based sedation, the increase in its use is limited by anesthesiologists' availability and cost. Non-anesthesiologist administration of propofol has thus emerged as an alternative that is slowly gaining acceptance. This Editorial puts into perspective discussions that have recently taken place in Spain about the safety of non-anesthesiologist administration of propofol. It aims at refocusing the debate on facts, with the hope that an agreement between anesthesiologists, endoscopists and nurses will be achieved. Anesthesiologists' support is essential to ensure that the transition that endoscopists are making from traditional to propofol sedation is safe.