28-year-old man comes to the emergency department for an injury sustained while doing construction. Physical examination shows a long, superficial, irregular laceration on the lateral aspect of the left forearm with exposed fascia and with an anterior dislocation of the humerus. Reduction of the patient's dislocated joint is performed under procedural sedation with intravenous propofol. A single bolus of propofol provides adequate sedation for the procedure, and he becomes clinically alert several minutes after administration. Which of the following mechanisms most likely explains this patient's rapid recovery from anesthesia?

Question

28-year-old man comes to the emergency department for an injury sustained while doing construction. Physical examination shows a long, superficial, irregular laceration on the lateral aspect of the left forearm with exposed fascia and with an anterior dislocation of the humerus. Reduction of the patient's dislocated joint is performed under procedural sedation with intravenous propofol.  A single bolus of propofol provides adequate sedation for the procedure, and he becomes clinically alert several minutes after administration.  Which of the following mechanisms most likely explains this patient's rapid recovery from anesthesia?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Propofol and other highly lipophilic drugs readily diffuse across membranes, quickly accumulating in tissues receiving high blood flow; this accounts for their rapid onset of action.  These compounds are subsequently redistributed to organs receiving less blood flow, which explains their short duration of action.

28-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department for an Injury