FED: Drug implicated in star's death is safe - anaesthetists

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2009
FED: Drug implicated in star's death is safe - anaesthetists

By Danny Rose, Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - Australia's anaesthetists have moved to dispel any community concern
about a drug implicated in the death of Michael Jackson.

Propofol is listed among a cocktail of drugs reportedly identified in the dead pop
icon's body but the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) says it
is "very safe" when proper patient monitoring is in place.

"Propofol is used to induce general anaesthesia in nearly every patient having surgery
in the developed world," says ANZCA vice president Associate Professor Kate Leslie.

"(It is) very safe when it is used by an anesthetist or another doctor who is trained
in its use, and in an appropriate environment like a hospital."

Dr Leslie says propofol could induce unconsciousness in a person within about 60 seconds
of injection but its effect only lasted for five to 10 minutes.

The prescription-only medicine was also used in small doses for sedation, she says,
or to create a "twilight sleep" state in a person.

"However, you still need a trained doctor to take care of you in this situation because
propofol has side effects," Dr Leslie says.

"The main problem with propofol and other general anaesthetics is that they impair
the patient's ability to keep their airway open."

And if a patient's airway became blocked when they were not properly monitored, Dr
Leslie says they would be "unable to move air and they will become asphyxiated".

"If an anesthetist is present then there is no problem."

The Los Angeles County coroner has reportedly ruled that Michael Jackson's death was
a homicide and that a combination of drugs was the cause.

Forensic tests found traces of propofol acted together with at least two sedatives
to cause Jackson's death on June 25.

It is understood valium-type drugs were also detected.

"Side effects are more likely to occur if the patient has other pain-killing or sedative
drugs in their system," Dr Leslie also says.

AAP dr/dep

KEYWORD: JACKSON ANAESTHETIC

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.