What is Moderate Sedation?
Moderate sedation is medicine to help you relax and keep you comfortable during your procedure. It is given through the vein. You will be able to breathe on your own and follow commands.
What happens when I get Moderate Sedation?
You will need to stop eating or drinking at least 6 hours before you get moderate sedation.
The nurse will place an IV, which is a small plastic tube in your vein. They will give you the medicine through the IV.
The nurse will first hook you up to a machine to watch your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen level. The nurse will ask you if you are having pain.
You might fall asleep. If you do, you will wake up if the nurse says your name or if the clinician asks you to take a breath and hold it.
What are the risks of Moderate Sedation?
Moderate sedation is generally safe when given by a specialist. It will cause up to 1 in 10 people to breathe more slowly, but this gets better by telling them to take a deep breath. This is why you will be closely watched. If your breathing slows too much, you may need medicine to wake you up.
What are alternatives to Moderate Sedation?
Your options will depend upon your preferences, health conditions, and the type of procedure you are having.
Alternative 1: No moderate sedation. Some procedures can be safely performed with medicine to numb the area. Some people can use meditation or hypnosis to stay relaxed during procedures. However, these options are often not enough to keep most people comfortable for some procedures.
Alternative 2: Light sedation. This uses less medicine and produces mild relaxation and pain relief. It has less risks.
Alternative 3: Deep sedation or general anesthesia. This causes a person to become unconscious so they need help to breathe, often with a breathing tube. The risks are higher.
What happens after getting Moderate Sedation?
You may feel groggy, sleepy or dizzy. Headache and nausea may occur but usually do not last longer than 12-24 hours. You may not remember the procedure.
You will need someone to come with you and drive you home. It is not safe for you to drive or operate machinery for 24 hours after getting moderate sedation. You should also avoid making important decisions during this time.