Patient education: Sedation for procedures in adults (The Basics)

What is sedation? — 

This means getting medicines to make you relax and feel sleepy. It can be used for different medical procedures and minor surgeries. With sedation, you might not remember the procedure when it is over. The staff monitors your heart rate and breathing carefully when you have sedation.

There are different levels of sedation. The doctors, dentists, and anesthesia providers will decide which type is best for your procedure:

●For most sedation, you will not remember the procedure. Sometimes, you might be able to talk, answer questions, and breathe on your own. This is also called "conscious sedation."

●With deeper sedation or general anesthesia, you cannot talk or answer questions. You might need help to breathe.

●Sometimes, your doctor will give you medicine to help you relax, but you will remember the procedure. This is sometimes called "minimal sedation." Talk to your doctor if you are worried about remembering the procedure.

Sedation is often combined with pain control if the procedure is expected to cause pain. The doctor might inject numbing medicines or give you pain medicine through an IV. (An IV is a thin tube that goes into a vein.)

When is sedation used? — 

Doctors use sedation to help make you more comfortable during a procedure. Examples of procedures that might be done with sedation include:

●Minor surgeries or procedures – Examples include taking a tissue sample, lining up the ends of a broken bone, putting a joint back into place, using electricity to fix an abnormal heart rhythm, or some types of cosmetic surgery.

●Colonoscopy or endoscopy – These tests use a special scope to look inside the body, such as the lining of the colon.

●Dental surgery such as placing an implant or taking out an impacted tooth

●Bronchoscopy or laryngoscopy – These tests use a special scope or device to look inside the airways.

How do I prepare for sedation? — 

The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare. Before the procedure, your doctor will do an exam and ask about your health history. You will also get information about:

●Eating and drinking before the procedure – You might need to "fast" before the procedure. This means not eating or drinking anything for a period of time. Or you might be allowed to have liquids until a short time before the procedure. Whether you need to fast, and for how long, depends on the procedure and whether it needs to be done right away.

●What help you will need after having sedation – You will need someone else to bring you home. You might need someone to stay with you for some time while you recover.

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

What happens during sedation? — 

When it is time for the procedure:

●You will get an IV. This can be used to give you fluids and medicines.

●You will get sedation medicines. The doctor might also give you medicines to help with pain.

●The doctors and nurses will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during the procedure.

What happens after sedation? — 

After your procedure, the staff will watch you closely as your sedation wears off. As the medicines leave your body, you will become more alert. You might have trouble remembering things for a short time after sedation.

What are the risks of sedation? — 

Your doctor will talk to you about all the possible risks, and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Low blood pressure

●Nausea or vomiting

●Temporary breathing problems

More on this topic

Patient education: Sedation for procedures in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Anesthesia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Monitored anesthesia care (The Basics)
Patient education: Nerve blocks (The Basics)
Patient education: Fasting before surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)