DIPRIVAN comes in a special glass container which may be a vial or a syringe. This will be supplied to your anaesthetist. DIPRIVAN is given by an injection into a vein, usually in the forearm or the back of the hand. Your anaesthetist may use a fine plastic tube called a cannula. The amount of DIPRIVAN you are given will be decided by your anaesthetist. DIPRIVAN may be given via a syringe driver or by a computer controlled pump called the Diprifusor(R) under the immediate supervision of the anaesthetist. In longer operations, or if you are having DIPRIVAN to sedate you, the anaesthetist may use an electric pump to control or slow the injection. The dose of DIPRIVAN will be adjusted to keep you at the right depth of sleep or sedation. The dose of DIPRIVAN needed for sedation is less than that needed for anaesthesia. If you are older, a child, or have some kind of heart trouble, your anaesthetist may be able to use lower doses to get the right depth of sleep or sedation.
General Anaesthesia DIPRIVAN is used as a short-acting general anaesthetic that can be given into the blood stream through a needle. It is used in adults, and children aged one month and older. A general anaesthetic is a medicine which produces general anaesthesia. This is the condition of heavy sleep needed during surgery. Short-acting means that a patient goes to sleep quickly, usually within 30 seconds of receiving DIPRIVAN, but then
wakes up quickly as it wears off. It can be used for very short operations when only one injection or dose is needed. DIPRIVAN can be used for longer operations if more is given as repeat doses (maintenance anaesthesia). It can be used to start off an anaesthetic (induction anaesthesia). This means that the anaesthetist may change over to a gas anaesthetic after you have gone to sleep.
Sedation
DIPRIVAN can also be given to adults slowly in low doses if you need to be sedated or sleepy, but do not need the heavy sleep of anaesthesia. Some people require DIPRIVAN for this use during special tests which may be called procedures. After some operations it is useful to keep a patient sedated while they are in the "intensive care" area. Your anaesthetist may need to give you a pain-relieving or relaxing medicine. Every anaesthetic is different and depends on the particular operation, procedure or medical care you are having. Your anaesthetist and surgeon are trained to look after every need you have while you are asleep or having a procedure done. He or she will decide which medicine to use as and when a need arises.
