Requirements and circumstances for safe sedation

ABSTRACT

The number of sedations performed for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that do not require general anesthesia is increasing. As most sedations are performed by non-anesthesiologists, safety is has become a critical issue in light of recent adverse outcomes reported in the media. To ensure the safety of patients undergoing sedation for minor procedures, standards regarding patient selection, education, drugs, equipment, facilities, sedation protocols, recovery, and monitoring should be developed and publicized as they have been in the US and European countries. Guidelines developed regarding sedation and analgesia are similar and share their most important goal patient safety. Any barriers that interfere with achieving this goal should be identified and eliminated. A Korean version of sedation guidelines should be developed. Guidelines that have both the clinical integrity of evidence and consideration of the real world should be developed and enforced.