Big Sleep: Beyond Propofol Sedation During GI Endoscopy

Excerpt

In the USA, endoscopic procedures are usually performed on sedated patients, which improves overall patient acceptance and comfort while improving procedural safety, efficiency, and quality [1]. A range of sedation depth is available, from moderate sedation on the one hand to general anesthesia on the other. Although during general anesthesia patients are not arousable even by painful stimulation, moderate sedation (“conscious sedation”) is characterized by depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. At least in the USA, deep sedation is preferred by both patients and their gastroenterologists. …