Researchers Report Women Require More Sedation Than Men

Finding the right dose of anesthesia during oral surgery can be challenging, especially when the amount needed for each patient varies. In a new study, “Female Patients Require a Higher Propofol Infusion Rate for Sedation,” published in Anesthesia Progress, researchers reported that men required a lower dosage of sedative than women during oral surgery.

The authors evaluated data from 125 patients who were sedated with propofol for dental implant surgery. The team sought to identify characteristics that affected the average infusion rate of the drug. They found that, compared to male subjects, women generally needed far more propofol to remain adequately sedated for the duration of the surgery. The results also suggest that administering reduced doses of anesthesia to men may be beneficial, as this would improve the safety of the procedure.