BACKGROUND： Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography（ERCP） is the most complex gastrointestinal procedure, which needs patients’ cooperation. The aim of this study was to observe the quality and safey of sedation with propofol in patients undergoing therapeutic ERCP.
METHODS：Seventy patients who had undergone therapeutic ERCP were randomly divided into two groups.One group, given intravenously propofol, and the other sedated with routine method, served as  the control. Blood pressure, heart rate,oxygen saturation were monitored and cardiorespiratory event was observed.Patient cooperation, performance, recovery time and amnesia served as variables postoperation.
RESULTS： Blood pressure elevated in four patients in the propofol group,less than in the control group（P＜0.01＝. Seven patients showed decreased blood pressure after administration of propofol, but none in the control group(P＜0.01). Twelve patients in the control group showed mild or significant resistance, but none in the propofol group（P＜0.01＝.The time for performance in the propofol group（P＜0.05＝ was shorter than in the control group. Patient recovery was quicker in the propofol group than in the control group（P＜0.01＝. The degree of amnesia better in the propofol group than in the control group（P＜0.01＝. The degree of anmesia was also better in the propofol group than in the control group（P＜0.01）.
CONCLUSIONS： Propofol proves to be an excellent sedative for therapeutic ERCP. Being effective and safe, it shows a shorter ERCP duration but  quick recovery and better amnesia. It is better than other routine sedatives.