Development of on-line/real time educational software for intra-operative use of propofol and fentanyl.

Masakazu Nakao *, Izumi Onji * and Miwako Nakao **

*Div of Anesthesia and Pain Control, Chuden Hospital, Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc., Hiroshima 730-8562, Japan, **Div of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Hiroshima Prefecture Hospital, Hiroshima 734-8530, Japan. E-mail: masa.nakao@nifty.ne.jp

The management of TIVA is still not so easy for anesthesiologists. While the understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is essential for the management of TIVA, most of available simulation software for IV anesthetics is designed for off-line use and we can’t use it during real anesthesia practice. We have developed the on-line/real-time simulation program for blood propofol and fentanyl concentration.

Program was written with Future BASIC (Staz Software, USA) under Mac OS 8.6 (Apple, USA). Based on the obtained total propofol from pumps and total fentanyl with minimum action, three-compartment model was solved with Runge-Kutta method. Calculated blood/effect site concentrations are displayed in a numeric/graphic trend form, hydraulic column compartments forms and the interaction of both drugs is shown in two-dimensional graph.

The supported pumps were the syringe driven pumps (Graseby 3500, 3500 Diprifusor^TM, UK, Terumo STC-525X, TE-312, Japan, AS-50 Baxter, USA, Alaris Ivac P6002tiva, P6002Diprifusor ^TM, P7000, UK) and volumetric pumps (Terumo TE-172, Japan, Sabratek 3030, USA).

This program provides useful information for the maintenance of propofol and fentanyl. Its routine use will help anesthesiologists to learn the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics more efficiently.