PHYSIOLOGICAL-PARAMETERS AND PLASMA-LEVELS AFTER SHORT AND LONG-TERM PROPOFOL INFUSION

After IV bolus elimination of propofol is slower than previously reported. After prolonged i.v. infusion of propofol values of elimination half-life ranged widely from 12- to 40 h. , systemic clearance from 1.42 to 1.86 l h-1 and volume of distribution were similar to those obtained with bolus administration. The large volume of distribution is consistent with the high octanol/blood partition coefficient, which was found to be 72.0. Despite the long elimination half-life, blood propofol concentrations appeared to approach steady state within 30 min . This is because this drug displays multicompartment pharmacokinetics, whereas the long elimination half-life of propofol is probably of little significance in designing infusions regimens