A death associated with possible propofol infusion syndrome.

Propofol, an intravenously administered, centrally acting sedative/hypnotic, is a popular medication for anesthesia and sedation due to rapid onset, controllability and short recovery time. Prolonged propofol infusions, (>48 h) with elevated doses (>67 mcg/kg/min) may result in a rare but fatal condition known as the Propofol Related Infusion Syndrome (PRIS). This is a case of severe metabolic acidosis and refractory hyperkalemia in a 53 year old female with polytrauma on a continuous propofol infusion that was associated with fatal outcome.