Seizures Associated with Propofol Anesthesia

Summary: Propofol is a new, fast-acting intravenous (i.v.) anesthetic. Involuntary movements or epileptic sei zures have occurred during or after propofol-induced an esthesia in ∼50 reported cases; a third of the patients have had epilepsy. We report 5 patients with seizures in association with propofol anesthesia. A female epileptic patient developed severe status epilepticus; the other patients with short-lasting seizures had no previous epi lepsy. Although propofol has been used in treatment of patients of status epilepticus, the risk of precipitation of epileptic seizures warrants consideration especially when planning anesthesia for epileptic patients.