Effects of Time

Sedation decisions can both affect, and be affected by, how long a procedure lasts. Other time intervals to consider include:

  • Lag time between administering a drug and assessing patient response([FOOTNOTE=Das S, Ghosh S. Monitored anaesthesia care: an overview. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol 2015;31(1):27-9.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])
  • Recovery time([FOOTNOTE=Robertson DJ, Jacobs DP, Mackenzie TA, et al. Clinical trial: A randomized study comparing meperidina (pethidine) and fentanyl in adult gastrointestinal endoscopy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2009;29:817-23.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])
  • Time each individual takes to metabolize a drug or drugs([FOOTNOTE=Smith HS. Opioid metabolism. Mayo Clin Proc 2009; 84:613-624.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])

A Good Experience

Patient satisfaction is an important part of quality practice, yet it's often subjective, a matter of individual perception. Pain, discomfort, and anxiety can change based on each patient's experience, including their sedation experience.([FOOTNOTE=Tierney M, Bevan R, Rees CJ, Trebble TM. What do patients want from their endoscopy experience? The importance of measuring and understanding patient attitudes to their care. Frontline Gastroenterology. 2016;7:191-198. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2015-100574.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]) See how satisfaction is achieve in the emergency department.

Safety First

Serious adverse events are very rare outcomes of procedural sedation.([FOOTNOTE=Bellolio MF, Gilani WI, Barrionuevo P, et al. Incidence of adverse events in adults undergoing procedural sedation in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acad Emerg Med. 2016;23:119–34.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=]) But each patient responds differently to sedation. Having a clinician monitor each individual response minimizes negative outcomes.([FOOTNOTE=ASA Continuum of Depth of Sedation: Definition of General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia. Committee of Origin: Quality Management and Departmental Administration, 2009. (Approved by the ASA House of Delegates)],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])  Learn about addressing safety in the cardiac cath lab. 

Meeting Procedure Demands

Each procedure has its own unique requirements, risks, and uncertainties. As minimally invasive techniques make more complex procedures possible outside the OR, clinicians carefully assess each patient in considering each sedation. Learn about meeting procedural needs in the interventional radiology suite.