Surgical Tip of the Week
#21 The Sedation Continuum
The concept of sedation as a continuum is the foundation of patient safety. Sedation is a continuum of levels of sedation from fully consciousness to unconsciousness (general anesthesia).
Moderate Sedation/ Analgesia (“Conscious Sedation”)
- A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which
- patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation
- reflex withdrawal from a painful stimulus is NOT considered a purposeful response
- No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate.
- Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.
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