Propofol is a short-acting anesthesia medication which is commonly used for sedation during medical and surgical procedures. In November of 2009, Hospira, which makes a generic version of the drug, initiated a recall of its products because some of the containers may have been contaminated during the manufacturing process with particulate matter, primarily made of stainless steel particles. Because these contaminants do not dissolve in blood, they could potentially act as emboli and impede blood flow. In recent months, the drug maker expanded the recall to include a wider range of its product supply.