High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): A Cost-Effective and Accurate Method for Propofol Plasma Level Monitoring

Abstract

Objective: To determine the propofol plasma levels by using a validated HPLC method in the Pakistani population. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the IIMC-Pakistan Railway Journal Hospital, Rawalpindi in collaboration with the Centralized Resource Laboratory, Peshawar from August 2022 to
December 2022.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty Pakistani patients who received propofol for induction of anesthesia (2 mg/kg) were selected for this study. A customized HPLC method measured propofol plasma concentrations after five and ten minutes of propofol induction. We used an already validated technique of HPLC in our study with some modifications which made it more cost-effective.

Results: A linear calibration curve of the propofol was obtained within the range of 0.2 to 1.0 mg/L, while a value of the correlation coefficient (R² = 0.993) indicated good linearity for the drug. We observed marked inter-individual variability in the propofol serum levels in the Pakistani population (p˂0.05).

Conclusion: The estimation of propofol serum levels by this customized HPLC method was meticulous and relatively cost-effective. So, this method can be helpful in propofol pharmacokinetic studies to minimize its adverse effects, especially in countries where resources are limited.