Effective sedation is usually a vital precursor to any successful endoscopic procedure. With the advanced techniques and medications available today, in the hands of a skilled provider, this component of the procedure can generally be dealt with safely, and in a highly efficient manner. Circumstances do arise, however, in which sedation can be difficult. Overcoming challenges in this respect can ...

The black cloud of medical malpractice is always a concern. EndoNurse takes a look at the many legal twists and turns surrounding conscious sedation and patient release, and offers tips on how to keep you and your center out of the courts. FIRST OF ALL, “Conscious sedation is fast becoming an outdated term,” according to Deborah A. Krohn, RN, ...

Lidocaine is a drug that has a wide variety of uses. It can be given intravenously to stabilize a life-threatening arrhythmia. It can be given by percutaneous injection when an epidural block is needed, or it can be given as a topical solution for local or regional anesthesia. During bronchoscopy, we use lidocaine to anesthetize the upper airway as ...

Hailed by some as an answer to increased healthcare costs and patient satisfaction, others argue that Nurse-Administered Propofol Sedation (NAPS) is far from harmless. Here we present a variety of opinions from clinicians with first-hand experience. The Gastroenterologist John Walker, MD of Medford, Ore. and his partners in Gastroenterology Consultants, P.C., have had excellent results in more than 28,000 cases ...

Nurse-administered Propofol Sedation Gets Thumbs-Up from GI Heads On March 8, 2004, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) issued a jointly sponsored statement on sedation for endoscopy. The statement clarifies billing issues related to the administration and/or supervision of sedation/anesthesia, summarizes current data on sedative agents and ...