Pharmacokinetics of propofol administered by continuous infusion in patients with cirrhosis. Preliminary results.

Anaesthesia was provided by an infusion of propofol in six healthy patients and six patients with hepatic cirrhosis. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to the central compartment volume, distribution volume at steady state, total apparent distribution volume, total body clearance or elimination half-life, although the values were always greater in the cirrhotic patients. Recovery times were significantly longer in the patients with cirrhosis.