CONTINUOUS PROPOFOL INFUSION FOR THE RELIEF OF TREATMENT-RESISTANT DISCOMFORT IN A TERMINALLY ILL PEDIATRIC-PATIENT WITH CANCER

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of propofol as adjunctive ther apy in the treatment of drug-resistant discomfort in a terminally ill pediatric patient. Patient and Methods: A 3-year-old child with advanc ed rhabdomyosarcoma and severe drug-resistant discomfort was studied. Propofol was administered as adjunctive therapy to provide relief from severe discomfort. Results: Propofol was initiated with a loading dos e of 1.2 mg/kg followed by a continuous intravenous infusion of 1.2 mg /kg/h. Over the next 10 days, additional loading doses were administer ed and the infusion rate was increased to a maximum of 32 mg/kg/h. Aft er the addition of propofol, our patient's discomfort improved greatly without the occurrence of propofol-associated adverse events. Conclus ions: Propofol appears to be an effective adjunct to opioids and a pro mising alternative to barbiturate therapy in the treatment of drug-res istant discomfort in terminally ill pediatric patients.