CONSCIOUS SEDATION - WHAT AN INTERNIST NEEDS TO KNOW

The use of conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia is increas ing with the development of less-invasive alternatives to surgery and the shift to outpatient care. Yet, conscious sedation can pose its own special dangers. Common pitfalls include failure to recognize hypoxem ia, inadequate analgesia, inappropriate dosing with respect to individ ual variability, and lack of appropriate backup support.