Subbu Insights · Anaesthesia Education

Propofol TCI Models

Interactive pharmacokinetic simulations for anaesthesia teaching — Marsh, Schnider and Eleveld three-compartment models with live drug distribution, compartment volumes, and infusion rates.

Marsh 1991 Schnider 1998/99 Eleveld 2018
3 Live PK Models
15 Referenced Papers
9 PK Parameters
Patient Configurations
Interactive Simulations

Five Educational Tools

Each tool runs entirely in your browser — no login, no data collection, fully offline-capable once loaded.

01 / 05
🩸
Marsh Model (1991)
Three-Compartment
Simulation

The classic Diprifusor model — animated drug particles flowing between blood, muscle and fat. Live concentration bars, infusion rate in mg/kg/hr and mL/hr, bolus function.

  • Animated drug particle flow
  • Live Cp, Ce, C₂, C₃ readouts
  • Target Cp control (0.5–8 µg/mL)
  • mg/kg/hr · mL/hr · mg/min display
  • Effect-site (ke₀ = 0.26 min⁻¹)
Launch simulation →
02 / 05
📊
All Three Models
Model Comparison
Side by Side

Marsh, Schnider and Eleveld running simultaneously with independent TCI controllers. Adjust patient parameters and watch how differently each model responds.

  • Three parallel live simulations
  • Patient sliders: age, weight, height, sex
  • Infusion rates for all three models
  • Live concentration comparison tab
  • Calculated PK parameter table
Launch simulation →
03 / 05
🫧
V₁ · V₂ · V₃
Compartment
Volume Explorer

Dedicated visual comparison of how V₁, V₂ and V₃ differ across the three models — animated tanks, proportional bubbles, and bar charts that update instantly with patient parameters.

  • Liquid-fill tanks proportional to volume
  • Bubble chart — area ∝ volume
  • Side-by-side bar chart with L/kg annotation
  • LBM warning for Schnider in obesity
  • Scaling equation summary cards
Launch explorer →
04 / 05
📖
Primary Literature
Bibliography &
Key Data Page

All 15 references with confirmed parameter equations, comparison tables, clinical implications, and a correction note on the Marsh V₁ value. Print-ready with one click.

  • 15 fully formatted references with DOIs
  • Confirmed volume equations (Absalom 2009)
  • Side-by-side parameter comparison tables
  • Schnider LBM safety warning
  • 🖨 Print / Save PDF button
Open bibliography →
05 / 05
📄
Word Document
Reference
Document (.docx)

Professionally formatted Word document — all equations, parameter tables, clinical implications, the Marsh V₁ correction, and all 15 bibliography entries. Distribute to delegates.

  • 6 sections, 357 paragraphs
  • Colour-coded reference cards per model
  • Code-block equations in monospace
  • Running headers and page numbers
  • Download and open in Microsoft Word
Download .docx →
For Presentations

How to use in teaching

Three ways to use these tools live in a lecture or workshop.

01
Open in browser

Open the tool in Chrome or Edge. Press F11 for full screen. Alt+Tab between your slides and the simulation seamlessly.

02
Hyperlink from slides

In PowerPoint, right-click any shape → Hyperlink → paste the tool URL. One click launches it during your presentation.

03
Share the URL

Send delegates this page. They can run every simulation on their own devices during your talk for hands-on learning.

04
Teaching tip

Try changing patient age to 75 years in the comparison tool — watch Schnider's V₂ shrink while Marsh ignores age entirely. Powerful demonstration.

⚠️

Educational use only. These simulations are designed for anaesthesia teaching and pharmacokinetic illustration. They are not intended for clinical decision-making, patient dosing, or therapeutic guidance. All pharmacokinetic parameters are derived from published population data. Individual patient responses will vary. Always refer to current institutional protocols, drug monographs, and clinical judgement for patient care decisions.

SM
Dr Subramanyam S. Mahankali
Director of Anaesthesia Services

KIMS Hospitals, Bengaluru
Mahadevapura & Electronic City

TCI · TIVA · Precision Anaesthesia
EEG / BIS Monitoring
Regional Anaesthesia
AI in Healthcare
OT Workflow & Efficiency
Academic Editor & Educator
Digital Health Strategy
About Subbu Insights

Teaching pharmacokinetics the way it should be taught

Three-compartment pharmacokinetic models underpin every TCI pump used in modern anaesthesia — yet most clinicians have never seen them visualised in a way that builds genuine intuition. The Marsh, Schnider and Eleveld models behave very differently depending on patient characteristics, and understanding why requires seeing the compartments fill and empty, the infusion rate respond, and the concentrations diverge in real time.

These tools were built over a series of teaching sessions to address that gap. Every parameter has been cross-referenced against primary publications — Marsh (1991), Schnider (1998/1999), Eleveld (2018) — and the key review by Absalom et al. (2009) which confirmed the critical Marsh V₁ = 0.228 × weight equation, not the 4.27 L fixed value that appears erroneously in some educational materials.

Subbu Insights is the thought-leadership and education platform of Dr Subramanyam S. Mahankali, a senior anaesthesiologist, academic editor, and clinical innovator with nearly three decades of experience in perioperative medicine and TCI–TIVA practice.

Primary References

1. Gepts E et al. Disposition of propofol administered as constant rate i.v. infusion in humans. Anesth Analg. 1987;66(12):1256–1263. PMID: 3500657
2. Marsh B, White M, Morton N, Kenny GN. Pharmacokinetic model driven infusion of propofol in children. Br J Anaesth. 1991;67(1):41–48. doi:10.1093/bja/67.1.41
3. Schnider TW et al. The influence of method of administration and covariates on the pharmacokinetics of propofol. Anesthesiology. 1998;88(5):1170–1182. doi:10.1097/00000542-199805000-00006
4. Schnider TW et al. The influence of age on propofol pharmacodynamics. Anesthesiology. 1999;90(6):1502–1516. doi:10.1097/00000542-199906000-00003
5. Eleveld DJ, Colin P, Absalom AR, Struys MMRF. Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model for propofol for broad application in anaesthesia and sedation. Br J Anaesth. 2018;120(5):942–959. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2018.01.018
6. Absalom AR, Mani V, De Smet T, Struys MMRF. Pharmacokinetic models for propofol — defining and illuminating the devil in the detail. Br J Anaesth. 2009;103(1):26–37. doi:10.1093/bja/aep143
7. Struys MMRF, Absalom AR, Colin PJ, Eleveld DJ. General purpose PK–PD models for TCI of anaesthetic drugs: a narrative review. J Clin Med. 2022;11(9):2487. doi:10.3390/jcm11092487

Full bibliography with all 15 references, DOIs, PMIDs and annotations available in the Bibliography tool above.