Medical applications performed for diagnostic, therapeutic or research purposes may cause pain or discomfort at rates that vary depending on the type of application. In patients who are conscious, anesthesia is needed due to the pain that these procedures will cause. Different anesthetic methods are used depending on the type of procedure and the region where the operation will be performed. In addition to general anesthesia and local anesthesia, sedation is one of the preferred methods of sedation during lighter procedures. Sedation application, which mainly serves the purposes of relaxation and relaxation, reducing the feelings of pain and discomfort, is a method that is often used in many areas of medicine.
Ingredients
What is Sedation?
What are the Types of Sedation?
To Whom is Sedation Applied?
How is Sedation Applied?
What is Sedation?
Sedation is a relaxing procedure performed on patients before medical procedures that may cause pain or discomfort. Sedation, which reduces anxiety in patients before the operation and various medical applications, prevents involuntary reactions by the body and relieves the pain that will be felt during the interventions, is performed with the help of various medications. Suitable ones of these drugs, called sedative drugs, can be given to the patient orally or intravenously. The dose of the prescribed drugs varies depending on the patient's age, state of health, type and duration of the operation. For this reason, the type and dose of the drug should be determined as a result of the evaluation to be performed by specialists before the procedure. Sometimes a single dose of sedation is sufficient for such a procedure, while in some cases additional doses may October need to be given during the procedure process. Especially during procedures that take longer than planned, the sedation period can be extended by October by applying additional doses easily. The most severe form of sedation is general anesthesia, and consciousness is completely closed in patients receiving general anesthesia. In this case, the patient needs respiratory support, and cardiovascular functions may be impaired. The level of consciousness in sedation, in which consciousness is turned off at a lower rate than general anesthesia, varies depending on the type of sedation.
What are the Types of Sedation?
Sedation is divided into different types according to the pain or discomfort caused by the medical procedure to be performed. According to the severity of the consciousness calming effect of sedation, the types of sedation determined by the administration of the drug dose can be listed as follows:
Minimal (Light) Sedation: Minimal sedation, which has a minimal effect on the bodily senses, is a kind of sedative. Especially in light sedation, which is preferred in terms of calming conditions such as anxiety, panic attacks and undergoing a comfortable medical procedure, the patient feels comfortable and sleepy. It may be preferred in cases such as fear of the dentist, fear of needles, or during medical imaging procedures that cause mild discomfort.
Moderate Sedation: In moderate sedation, also called conscious sedation or procedural sedation, the patient is in a semi-conscious state. While the ability to breathe on its own and respond to stimuli continues, the patient's feelings of pain, anxiety and discomfort significantly decrease.
Dissociation: Dissociation is called a more severe state of moderate sedation. Drugs that prevent sensory impulses from reaching the higher centers of the brain are used. At this level of sedation, the patient may respond to certain stimuli even though he is disconnected from his environment.
Deep Sedation: In deep sedation, which is the sedation phase before general anesthesia, the patient's consciousness is almost closed. The patient who is given this level of sedation has only purposeful reactions to constantly repeated severe and painful warnings. Although patients may need help with breathing, cardiovascular functions usually do not deteriorate.
General Anesthesia: In general anesthesia, which is the most severe form of sedation, consciousness is completely closed and no response to stimuli can be obtained. The patient needs respiratory support and there may be a deterioration in cardiovascular functions.
To Whom is Sedation Applied?
Sedation is a sedation technique that is very commonly used during medical procedures. Sedation can be applied to all kinds of patients who do not have an allergic reaction to the drugs given during the application before the medical procedure. Some of the medical procedures for which sedation is widely preferred are:
Routine medical interventions to be applied to patients with mental or psychiatric diseases who are resistant to medical procedures
Procedures that should be performed on patients with problems such as anxiety, fear of needles, fear of dentists and panic attacks
Some uncomfortable treatments related to tooth extraction and oral health
Dental practices that cause reactions such as nausea, vomiting in children or adults
Procedures such as endoscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy
Some computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRI) applications
Minor surgical interventions that need to be performed on areas such as feet or skin
Biopsies
Genital mutilation
The risks and side effects of sedation, which is a much safer and easier sedation procedure compared to general anesthesia, are also much less. In some patients, conditions such as weakness, decreased reflexes, low blood pressure, headache, short-term memory problems may occur after sedation. Although these are not seen in every patient, they are usually side effects that ease and disappear soon after the procedure. Not every medical operation, especially most of the operations, is suitable for being performed with sedation. In such cases, general anesthesia or local anesthesia types are used. Side effects are usually more severe and longer lasting in patients receiving general anesthesia or spinal local anesthesia. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache are significantly more severe in these patients.
How is Sedation Applied?
A planning is made for the patient, who is evaluated by the anesthesiologist before an operation or medical intervention to be performed with the sedation application. First of all, the appropriate type of sedation targeted, the type of medication to be used and the dose are determined. In some cases, taking into account the patient's medical history, chest X-ray for lung and heart imaging, ECG for heart rhythm control, simple blood tests for investigating conditions such as anemia and infection may be ordered. The results obtained from these are important for the planning of the medical procedure to be performed under sedation and the application of sedation. After these evaluations, the monitoring and rescue materials that may be required during the process are determined and made available in the environment where the process will be performed. Before sedation, the vascular path is opened and analgesic substance is applied. Some of the different types of drugs that can be preferred in sedation application are:
Benzodiazepines (Midazolam, Lorazepam, Diazepam)
Barbiturates (Methohexital, Thiopental)
Non-barbiturate sedatives (Propofol, Etomidate)
Opioids (Morphine, Fentanyl, Meperidine)
Non-opioid analgesics
Inhalation agents (Nitrous oxide)
Dexmedetomidine
After deciding on the type of sedation, the appropriate sedation medication and the dose of the medication can be decided. In patients with a history of allergic reactions, the appropriate sedative agents suitable for the medical procedure to be performed may be preferred. When the procedure day arrives, the sedative agent determined for the desired sedation level is given to the patient and the medical procedure is started after the sedation takes place. Additional doses may be needed if the desired level of consciousness cannot be reached in the patient or if the patient's consciousness begins to open due to the October operation taking longer than expected. After this stage, the medical procedure is expected to be completed. After the procedure is completed, the patient is kept under observation until he reaches his first mental state. Despite the risk of any side effects or allergic reactions, it is beneficial for the patient not to leave the health facility during the process deemed appropriate by the physician.
If you are going to receive sedation or general anesthesia before any medical procedure, you can get information from your doctor about the details of the application. If you need sedation during your planned treatments due to anxiety or concerns, you can request that your appropriate treatments be performed with the help of sedation by getting the opinion of your doctor.