Sedation

Sedation is a mild form of anesthesia ensuring you to comfortably undergo an (endoscopic) procedure. In our hospital, this type of anesthesia is carried out by Physician Assistants (PAs): medical professionals who independently perform their delegated tasks from an anesthesiologist.

Sedation is meant to lower your consciousness to a level that makes you feel sleepy and comfortable. This is done by administering sleep medication (propofol), usually in combination with painkillers such as (al)fentanyl.

Before starting the sedation, we do a “time out” procedure to check your personal and medical data. We will insert an i.v. canula and connect you to a monitor. Then you will be given the medication. The degree of sedation – the depth of your sleep - can be adjusted during the procedure; we make sure that you are very comfortable. When the sedation is terminated, you will usually be fully awake immediately. You will be monitored for about another hour in the recovery department. We will also give you something to eat and drink.

In some patients and for some interventions, the anesthesiologist will decide that general anesthesia is necessary. This form of anesthesia lowers jour consciousness completely and you will also need ventilator support.

The anesthesiology department will make an appointment to screen you for all types of anesthesia and to inform you further about sedation, risks of sedation and fasting procedures.