Optimized Propofol Anesthesia for Pediatric Medical Imaging (MRI & CT) in Limited-Resource Settings: A Safety and Efficacy Study in Western Libyan Hospitals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54361/LJMR.20.2.75Keywords:
Pediatric anesthesia, Propofol, MRI, CT, Safety, Efficacy, Limited-resource settings, Diagnostic imaging.Abstract
Background: Medical imaging procedures such as MRI and CT often necessitate anaesthesia in pediatric patients who cannot cooperate, particularly in resource-limited environments. This study addresses the critical need for safe and effective anaesthetic protocols in such settings. Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of propofol anaesthesia in children under 15 years undergoing MRI and CT scans in Western Libyan hospitals, specifically analysing administered doses and resultant image quality.Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 90 pediatric patients across three health institutions in Western Libya (Tripoli University Hospital, Al-Firdous Clinic, and Al-Khalil Clinic) from July 1 to September 15, 2025. Data were collected via structured questionnaires, encompassing demographic variables, propofol dosage, procedure duration, diagnostic image quality, and any observed complications during anaesthesia or recovery. Results: The study reported no anaesthesia-related complications or adverse events during recovery in any of the 90 cases, indicating a robust safety profile. Furthermore, all medical images (100%) achieved high diagnostic quality, underscoring the efficacy of the anaesthetic protocol in minimising motion artefacts. The predominant propofol dose administered was less than 5 mg/kg (67% of cases), and the majority of procedures (77%) were completed within 15 minutes. Conclusion: The propofol anaesthesia protocol demonstrated both safety and high efficacy for pediatric medical imaging in the Western Libyan hospitals studied. The findings support the feasibility and safety of the observed propofol-based approach in the studied settings, while larger multicenter studies are needed before broader standardisation. Future research should explore long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and comparative studies with other anaesthetic agents.
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