Conscious sedation for surgical procedures
Definition
Conscious sedation is a combination of medicine to help you relax (a sedative) and another medicine to block pain (an anesthetic). You will probably stay awake and be able to respond to people during a medical or dental procedure. You should not need help with your breathing.
Conscious sedation lets you recover quickly and return to your everyday activities soon after your procedure.
Alternative Names
Anesthesia - conscious
Description
A nurse, doctor, or dentist, will give you conscious sedation in the hospital or outpatient clinic. Most of the time, it will not be an anesthesiologist. The medicine will wear off quickly, so it is used for short, uncomplicated procedures.
You may receive the medicine through an intravenous line (IV, in a vein) or a shot into a muscle. You will begin to feel drowsy and relaxed very quickly. If your doctor gives you the medicine to swallow, you will feel the effects after about 30 to 60 minutes.
Your breathing will slow down, and your blood pressure may drop a little. Your nurse or doctor will monitor you every 3 to 5 minutes during your procedure to make sure you are okay. You may receive extra oxygen through a mask or IV fluids through a catheter (tube) into a vein.
You may fall asleep, but you will wake up easily to respond to people in the room. After conscious sedation, you may feel drowsy and not remember much about your procedure.
Risks
Conscious sedation is usually safe. However, if you are given too much of the medicine, problems with your breathing may occur. A doctor or nurse will be watching you during the whole procedure. Health care providers should have special equipment to help you with your breathing if needed.
Reviewed By: Billy K Huh, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Management, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
