Propofol Rate Calculator

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Propofol Infusion Rate Calculator

Disclaimer: This tool is for educational purposes only. Always verify medical calculations with a second provider and follow institutional protocols. Propofol must be administered by trained professionals.

10 mg/mL (Standard) 20 mg/mL (Concentrated)

Calculated Infusion Rate

function calculatePropofolRate() { var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('patientWeight').value); var dose = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredDose').value); var concentration = parseFloat(document.getElementById('concentration').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('propofolResult'); var rateOutput = document.getElementById('rateOutput'); var breakdownOutput = document.getElementById('breakdownOutput'); if (isNaN(weight) || isNaN(dose) || weight <= 0 || dose <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for weight and dose."); return; } // Formula: // 1. Total mcg/min = dose (mcg/kg/min) * weight (kg) // 2. Total mg/min = Total mcg/min / 1000 // 3. Total mg/hr = Total mg/min * 60 // 4. Rate (mL/hr) = Total mg/hr / concentration (mg/mL) var totalMcgMin = dose * weight; var totalMgMin = totalMcgMin / 1000; var totalMgHr = totalMgMin * 60; var finalRate = totalMgHr / concentration; rateOutput.innerText = finalRate.toFixed(1) + " mL/hr"; breakdownOutput.innerHTML = "Patient is receiving " + (totalMgHr).toFixed(1) + " mg/hr of Propofol." + "Calculation: (" + dose + " mcg × " + weight + " kg × 60 min) / (1000 × " + concentration + " mg/mL)"; resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Propofol Infusion Calculations

Propofol is a lipid-soluble intravenous anesthetic used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, as well as sedation for mechanically ventilated adults in the ICU. Because of its rapid onset and short duration of action, it is typically administered as a continuous infusion rather than intermittent boluses for long-term sedation.

The Propofol Rate Formula

To calculate the pump rate in mL/hr, medical professionals use the following mathematical sequence:

  1. Determine Total Micrograms per Minute: Multiply the patient's weight (kg) by the ordered dose (mcg/kg/min).
  2. Convert to Milligrams: Divide the total mcg/min by 1,000 to get mg/min.
  3. Convert to Hourly Dose: Multiply the mg/min by 60 minutes to determine the total mg needed per hour.
  4. Calculate Flow Rate: Divide the total mg/hr by the concentration of the propofol (usually 10 mg/mL).

Dosing Guidelines and Safety

While dosing varies based on the clinical objective, common ranges include:

  • ICU Sedation: Typically starts at 5 mcg/kg/min and is titrated by 5-10 mcg/kg/min every 5-10 minutes. Common maintenance is between 5 and 50 mcg/kg/min.
  • Procedural Sedation: Often requires higher ranges, such as 25-75 mcg/kg/min.
  • General Anesthesia Maintenance: Usually ranges from 100-200 mcg/kg/min.

Example Calculation

If you have a patient weighing 80 kg and the order is for 30 mcg/kg/min using standard 10 mg/mL propofol:

Step Math Result
Step 1: Mcg/min 30 mcg × 80 kg 2,400 mcg/min
Step 2: Mg/min 2,400 / 1,000 2.4 mg/min
Step 3: Mg/hr 2.4 × 60 144 mg/hr
Step 4: Flow Rate (mL/hr) 144 / 10 14.4 mL/hr

Clinical Considerations

When managing a propofol infusion, clinicians must monitor for Propofol Related Infusion Syndrome (PRIS), which is a rare but potentially fatal complication characterized by metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and cardiac failure. This is more common with high doses (>50 mcg/kg/min) administered for longer than 48 hours. Monitoring triglycerides is also standard practice, as propofol is delivered in a lipid emulsion.

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