Webpage created 2/3/26; last updated 2/3/26
Interracial variability in sensitivity to propofol is a well-described phenomenon. These differences are of major concern due to the ever-present possibility that patients can slide from sedation into general anesthesia and lose their self-protective reflexes, providing for a potentially life-threatening situation.
This online interactive simulation shows propofol concentration over time provided a variety of parameters. The simulator includes dragging a propofol bolus or infusion to a desired administration time on the graph. Concentration over time for the patient’s effect site, i.e. the brain, and the patient’s blood stream is simulated and displayed graphically based on a three-compartment model. This is then compared to the effective concentrations of intravenous anesthetic at which 5%, 50%, and 95% of patients will not move in response to skin incision.
Users can select the desired graph duration time, patient weight, patient race, and pharmacokinetic model.
We recommend the Google Chrome web browser to use the simulator at this link.
