Propofol Wastage in Anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Drug waste has been implicated as a significant contributor to environmental contamination and unnecessary health care costs. METHODS: We collected the contents of pharmaceutical waste collection containers in each of 8 operating rooms, sorted them by hand, and tabulated the results. Propofol returned to the pharmacy was not counted as wasted drug. RESULTS: Wasted or discarded propofol accounted for 45% of all the drug waste. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol does not degrade in nature, accumulates in body fat, and is toxic to aquatic life. We reduced wastage by removing 50 and 100 mL vials of propofol from the pharmacy, retaining only the smallest size (20 mL). (Anesth Analg 2012;114:1091-2)