The Use of Propofol-fentanyl-ketamine (PFK) Combination Versus General Anesthesia Using Propofol and Fentanyl in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Procedures: a Prospective Study

Conscious sedation provides adequate control of pain and anxiety for the majority of routine endoscopic procedures as well as adequate amnesia. Sedation practices vary widely, with some colonoscopists advocating sedation only for the most difficult cases of colonoscopy, while others prefer using deep sedation or general anaesthesia for colonoscopy. However, many physicians are still using moderate sedation for the majority of patients.

The use of propofol, a short acting anesthetic agent, for conscious sedation provides a considerably more rapid onset of action and shorter recovery time, for which it is believed to be a safe drug of choice for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Although propofol cannot be used as a single agent for moderate sedation, it can be effectively titrated to moderate sedation after administration of small doses of narcotics and sedatives.

The aim of this study is to compare between general anesthesia and deep sedation using propofol-fentanyl-ketamine (PFK) preparation in terms of perioperative vital signs, intraoperative awareness, post-operative pain scores, and the use of analgesia postoperatively.