Sedation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sedation is a medical procedure involving the administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure with local anaesthesia.

1 Uses
2 Risks
3 Levels of sedation
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Uses

Sedation is typically used in procedures such as endoscopy, vasectomy, or minor surgery and in dentistry for reconstructive surgery, some cosmetic surgeries, removal of impacted wisdom teeth, or for high-anxiety patients. Sedation methods in dentistry include inhalation sedation (using nitrous oxide), oral sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation. Inhalation sedation is also sometimes referred to as Relative Analgesia.

Sedation is also used extensively in the intensive care unit so that patients who are being ventilated tolerate having an endotracheal tube in their trachea.

[edit] Risks

Airway obstruction, apnoea and hypotension are not uncommon during sedation and require the presence of health professionals who are suitably trained to detect and manage these problems.

[edit] Levels of sedation

Sedation scales are used in medical situations in conjunction with medical history to assess the degree of sedation in patients to avoid under-sedation (where the patient would experience pain or distress) and over-sedation (where the risk of side effects such as suppression of breathing might lead to death). Typically, levels are agitation, calm, responsive to voice only, to shaking only, to pain only and no response.

Examples of sedation scales include: MSAT (Minnesota Sedation Assessment Tool) and the Ramsay Scale (Ramsay Et Al 1974)