Table 3.

Indications, Advantages, and Disadvantages of the Use of Propofol as Palliative Sedation Therapy (PST)

Indications for propofol PST	Relief of suffering caused by intractable pain, anxiety, or agitation, refractory to standard palliative therapy (see Fig. 4).
Advantages/benefits of propofol PST	Rapid onset; easily titrated to effect; rapid recovery; good safety profile when administered by trained personnel;20–23 possible down-titration of other sedating regimens
Disadvantages/risks of propofol PST	Requires trained personnel and controlled care setting,20–23 potentially incompatible with other intravenous medications; respiratory depression and/or airway obstruction;23 hemodynamic instability (hypotension);15 hypertriglyceridemia;15 potential infectious risk of lipid solution;15 propofol infusion syndrome (cardiac failure, rhabdomyolysis, severe metabolic acidosis, and renal failure)15,34,35