IV Sedation Allows Patients to Remain Alert, Helpful During Surgery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 16, 2009 -- Across America, candidates for cosmetic procedures are asking about IV sedation and whether it is preferable to general anesthetic.

The numbers released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show a meteoric rise in cosmetic and plastic surgery between 1997 and 2008, so it should come as no surprise that more and more men and women are asking about the methods used to alleviate pain during surgery. We rely on surgeons and anesthesiologists to know the latest and best methods for sparing us pain while under the knife, and it seems that more than a few doctors are expressing their preference for what some call twilight sleep surgery.

Unlike twilight sleep childbirth, which caused negative side effects for both mother and child, intravenous sedation uses an IV application of a sedative combined to relax the patient with a local anesthetic for pain management. The name and the intent to alleviate pain are about the only commonalities between the two.

One of the fundamental differences between general anesthesia and IV sedation is that the latter allows patients to be relatively alert, even for fairly invasive work. While at first the thought of being awake while a surgeon cuts, pokes and sews may seem like the stuff of horror movies, consider the fact that being "completely under" does not guarantee protection from pain. There have been cases where patients have experienced pain under general anesthesia but were simply unable to communicate their distress. With IV sedation, doctor and patient can maintain a flow of information.

Another is that the patient retains control of his or her own breathing under twilight sleep, as opposed to the endotrachial tube used by the anesthesiologist to take over that function for general anesthetic. Certain potential complications which arise specifically from the tube are, of course, avoided with IV sedation, and recovery time in general is shorter as well. As stated on Medscape.com, procedures that used to require an overnight hospital stay can now be performed without the hospital in certified outpatient locations.

Dr. Manjit Brar (doctorbrar.com), a Vancouver, Washington, plastic surgeon of over 35 years' experience, "prefers twilight sleep anesthesia...because patients are less likely to get sick, patients can be asked to sit upright during surgery [to verify that work performed will have the desired effect], and he can communicate with patients if necessary. Patients usually leave within three hours of arrival at our facility."

Intravenous sedation is not for everyone. Surely some patients will simply not be comfortable being aware of surgery being performed on them. IV sedation is also still a relatively new technique, making it a good idea to ensure that the attending physicians have as much experience with it as possible. In the end, perhaps the most important thing is for both patient and doctor to feel comfortable with the decisions that are made.

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