Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation, also called procedural sedation and analgesia, is a technique in which a sedating and often dissociative medication is given, usually together with a pain relieving medication, so a patient can tolerate a non-surgical medical procedure. The goal is to lower the patient's level of consciousness while preserving the patient's ability to breathe unassisted. It is used routinely in emergency departments as well as operating rooms. Although it is considered safe with a low rate of complications, clinicians assess the patient beforehand, rule out contraindications, choose an appropriate sedative, and monitor the patient closely during and after the procedure.