Safe and effective conscious sedation administered by dermatologic surgeons

Objective: To review the experience with conscious sedation administered by dermatologic surgeons at an academic medical center. Design: Retrospective medical chart review. Setting: Outpatient dermatologic surgery unit at an academic medical center . Patients: Fifty episodes of conscious sedation in 37 patients undergoing de rmatologic surgical procedures. Intervention: Intravenous and inhaled conscious sedation was administered w ith strict monitoring during procedures. Main Outcome Measures: Efficacy was subjectively recorded by the administer ing physician and complications were recorded. Results: Administration of conscious sedation by dermatologic surgeons was associated with good to excellent sedation with minimal complications. Exte nsive preparation and training were necessary, and strict guidelines devise d by a conscious sedation task force were followed. Emergency preparedness was high, although it was not used. Conclusions: Conscious sedation can be safely and effectively administered by dermatologic surgeons in a hospital-based outpatient surgical unit after extensive training. Emergency preparedness is essential, and conservative guidelines should be followed.