Sedation for endoscopy:    the safe use of propofol by general practitioners

Mackay, Patricia; Hughes, Patrick J

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04710.x

Topics

To the Editor: Safety is a rather subjective concept, so to use the word without definition, as Clarke et al did,1 is somewhat misleading. One possible definition is that the complication rate for general practitioners is no greater than for anaesthetists in the same circumstances.

The Victorian Consultative Council on Anaesthetic Mortality and Morbidity, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: tony_clarke@bigpond.com

1. Clarke AC, Chiragakis L, Hillman LC, Kaye GL. Sedation for endoscopy: the safe use of propofol by general practitioner sedationists. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 158-161. <MJA full text>
2. Davis NJ, editor. Anaesthesia related mortality in Australia 1994–1996. Melbourne: Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, 1999.
3. Clarke AC, Chiragakis L, Hillman LC, Kaye GL. Sedation for endoscopy: the safe use of propofol by general practitioner sedationists. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 158-161. <MJA full text>
4. Knoblanche GE. Sedation for endoscopy [editorial]. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 147. <MJA full text>
5. Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Guidelines on conscious sedation for diagnostic, interventional medical and surgical procedures. Melbourne: ANZCA, 2001. (ANZCA Professional Document P9.) Available at: <http://www.anzca.edu.au/pdfdocs/PS9_2001.pdf>.
6. Clarke AC, Chiragakis L, Hillman LC, Kaye GL. Sedation for endoscopy: the safe use of propofol by general practitioner sedationists. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 158-161. <MJA full text>
7. Davis NJ, editor. Anaesthesia related mortality in Australia 1994–1996. Melbourne: Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, 1999.
8. Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Gastroenterological Society of Australia. Sedation for endoscopy. Melbourne: ANZCA, 1997. (ANZCA Professional Document P24.) <http://www.anzca.edu.au/publications/profdocs/professional/P24_1997.htm> (no longer available).

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