Palliative sedation with propofol for refractory agitation

Brian Li · 2025-10-27

Palliative sedation is a useful intervention to manage refractory symptoms at the end of life. Currently, there is limited research on approaches to managing symptoms refractory to standard sedation protocols. Expanding awareness of therapeutic options is essential for improving management of refractory cases. Propofol, a short-acting anaesthetic, may be a valuable option when conventional sedatives at high doses fail to achieve adequate symptom relief. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman with high-grade metastatic ovarian cancer with refractory agitation that was successfully managed with propofol for palliative sedation.