**5.10 Propofol**

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is an anaesthetic drug with a fast onset of action (within 30 seconds) after IV injection and short-term anaesthetic effect (3–10 min) depending on the dose, infusion rate and duration of administration in mechanically ventilated neonates. Propofol is primarily used for induction/maintenance anaesthesia, acute/procedural sedation (e.g. endotracheal intubation), secondary to the treatment of seizures. However, side effects were described, including cardiovascular (dose-dependent profound and prolonged hypotension) in preterm neonates (25.8–31.7 gestational weeks) treated with or without hemodynamic instability and/or NEC if propofol was used as a premedication for sedation at intubation, then metabolic (hypertriglyceridemia), respiratory (apnoea) and life-threatening episodes were reported (propofol syndrome, CNS symptoms, etc.) [58, 59]. Dosing: for IV induction and the maintenance IV infusion with a starting dose of 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg to a maximum of 3.5 mg/kg /hour [60].
