Propofol concentrations in follicular fluid during general anaesthesia fortransvaginal oocyte retrieval

Propofol (Diprivan(R)) is an i.v. anaesthetic used for general anaesthesia. The purpose of this study was to measure the propofol concentration in art erial blood and follicular fluid in patients during transvaginal oocyte ret rieval. After approval by the University Ethics Committee, 30 women partici pated in this prospective study. Following induction of anaesthesia with 0. 5 mg alfentanil and 2 mg.kg(-1) propofol i.v., a continuous infusion of pro pofol at 10 mg.kg(-1).h(-1) was used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Follic ular fluid and arterial blood samples were aspirated simultaneously at fixe d intervals during the surgical procedure and propofol assayed by high pres sure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mean follicular fluid concentration of propofol increased linearly with time from 0.10 +/- 0.02 mu g.ml(-1) to 0.57 +/- 0.06 mu g.ml(-1) and was strongly related to the cumulative dose o f propofol administered. The absorption of propofol was time-dependent. The re was no correlation between the concentration of propofol in the follicul ar fluid and the arterial blood concentration of the drug. In conclusion, a propofol-based anaesthetic technique resulted in significant concentration s of this agent in follicular fluid, related to the dose administered and t o the duration of propofol administration.