SummaryWe studied 30 unpremedicated patients undergoing muscle biopsy under femoral nerve block to determine sedation levels reached with a Diprifusorw target-controlled propofol infusion, in order to establish the equivalent of the ED 50 for different levels of depth of sedation. Infusion was started at 0.8 mg.ml 21 and altered by increments of 0.1 mg.ml 21 after equilibrium between target and calculated concentrations, until the desired level of sedation was reached. The ED 50 target propofol concentrations for sedation at sedation levels 2 (drowsy), 3 (drowsy, responds to verbal stimulation) and 4 (responsive to physical stimulation only) were 1.0 mg.ml 21 , 1.6 mg.ml 21 and 2.1 mg.ml 21 , respectively. At sedation level 3, several patients exhibited spontaneous movement, hindering surgery. Oxygen supplementation is recommended for sedation at level 4.