Anesthesia ensures patients are comfortable and pain-free while undergoing surgery. IV sedation is one of the most common methods for administering anesthesia in preparation for many surgical procedures. The experienced and board-certified physicians at Associated Anesthesiologists Inc., in Tulsa, Oklahoma, provide IV sedation so you can safely and comfortably undergo the surgical treatment you need.
IV Sedation
IV sedation is administered through an IV that is gently inserted into a vein in the arm. A cocktail of analgesics and anesthetics is then delivered directly into the bloodstream. IV sedation begins working within a few minutes, helping the patient feel comfortable, relaxed, and pain-free. IV sedation also helps reduce the anxiety, fear, and nervousness some patients experience prior to undergoing a surgical procedure.
The highly skilled team of anesthesiologists at our practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, utilizes varying IV sedation levels. The appropriate level depends on several factors, including the patient’s current health status, the type of surgery, and how the patient’s body typically responds to anesthesia. With any level of IV sedation, patients are not unconscious but can potentially feel drowsy or even fall asleep.
Three primary levels of IV sedation include:
Minimal: Patients remain awake, but relaxed during the procedure. Minimal IV sedation allows patients to understand, hear, and respond to doctors throughout the procedure.
Moderate: Although patients are not unconscious, moderate IV sedation tends to induce drowsiness. Some patients even fall asleep during the procedure and often do not remember much of it afterward.
Deep: Patients are asleep throughout the surgical procedure when deep IV sedation is administered. Afterward, patients do not remember anything from the procedure either.
IV Sedation vs. General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is another type of anesthesia used during surgical procedures. One significant way it differs from IV sedation is that patients are completely unconscious when under general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is administered when performing major surgeries, such as heart surgery, that require the patient to be completely unconscious.
IV sedation is a safe and highly effective alternative to general anesthesia for minor surgical procedures. It is also a better option for patients who previously have not responded well to general anesthesia. Some patients experience unwanted side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, with general anesthesia. Some examples of when IV sedation can be used include:
- Minor surgical procedures
- Colonoscopy
- Bunionectomy
- Hernia repair
- Plastic surgery
- Certain types of biopsies
IV sedation is a highly effective alternative to general anesthesia for minor surgical procedures and for patients who have had unpleasant experiences with general anesthesia in the past. To learn more about our services and the different levels of IV sedation, call Associated Anesthesiologists Inc., in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at (918) 494-0612.