TARGET-CONTROLLED INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA

Target-controlled infusion (TCI) is a new delivery system for IV anaes thetic agents with which the anaesthetist targets a plasma drug concen tration to achieve a predetermined effect. With this sytem, the tediou s task of calculating the amount of administered drug required to achi eve the target concentration is left in charge of a microprocessor whi ch commands the infusion device. TCI has long been used only by a few research teams, but this year a much wider field opens to this deliver y system through marketing of Diprifusor(TM), a TCI system specificall y designed for administration of propofol in everyday practice. This a rticle describes the rationale for administering IV agents through TCI delivery systems, the pharmacokinetic basis of TCI, the regulations a nd a broad overview of clinical applications, both recent and yet to c ome.