Journal article

Sedative and analgesic drugs for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure

SASomchai Amornyotin
Year2014
Volume3
Issue7
Pages1133-1144

Abstract

Gastrointestinal endoscopy has become an essential modality for evaluation and treatment of gastrointestinal tract abnormalities. This procedure is complex and may be unsafe if special concerns are not considered. The goal of procedural sedation in endoscopic procedure is the safe and effective control of pain and anxiety, to provide
an appropriate degree of memory loss or decreased awareness and to improve endoscopic performance especially in therapeutic procedures. Regardless of regimen used, the safe administration of sedative and analgesic drugs requires an awareness of the particular needs of the patients. The most commonly used sedation regimen
for sedation in gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure is still the combination of benzodiazepines and opioids. In addition, the use of propofol has increased enormously in the past decade. New sedative agents are currently used and studied. Although sedation in this endoscopic procedure is considered safe, the sedation has a potential for complications. Sedation-related complications can more easily occur even in healthy populations. Risk evaluation before the procedure and monitoring during and after the procedure as well as increased awareness of the sedation-related complications must be performed. Furthermore, properly trained staff and
emergency equipment should be available. This article reviews pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sedative and analgesic drugs and discusses the clinical use in gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.

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