| Sedation/Anesthesia FAQs |
| Please be aware that endoscopic sedation/anesthesia practices are rapidly evolving and vary considerably from region to region around the world and within the United States. While we invite guests to this website who are not our patients to learn from the information we are providing here, we recommend that you confer directly with your own gastroenterologist regarding the sedation/anesthesia options that will be available to you for your procedure. The sedation options we offer at Digestive Health’s facilities may not be available to you at other practices. |
| We use propofol-based sedation for all procedures performed at the Southwest Endoscopy Center. Our dedicated nurse anesthesiologist will be with you throughout your endoscopic procedure. With years of expertise in endoscopic sedation and a deep familiarity with our physicians, nurses, and support staff, this cohesive team ensures a seamless, safe, and personalized experience for every patient. |
| What does sedation feel like? Most patients have little recall of “going under.” Those who do typically remember pleasant and relaxed feelings. Patients receiving moderate sedation with fentanyl-midazolam alone (last used on a routine basis at Digestive Health in 2006) may have complete or near-complete amnesia for their procedure, and for a period of time after the procedure, which occasionally lasts for several hours. While this is not unpleasant for many patients, it is not unusual for individuals to complain that they felt “drugged” for hours after their procedure. This was quite troublesome for some patients. Individuals who are sedated with our current propofol-based sedation plan often report quite vivid dreams, which are typically pleasant in nature. Propofol-based sedation also causes complete or near-complete amnesia for the procedure, but memory and most cognitive functions typically return nearly to normal prior to discharge. Patients sedated with propofol rarely complain of feeling “drugged” and more often remark that they feel as if they had a great nap. While fentanyl and other opioid-type drugs may cause nausea, particularly at higher doses, this is rare with propofol. Will I remember anything? I am scared of feeling pain and I want to be “out.” Most of our patients prefer not to remember their examinations. Sedation with propofol is more likely than conventional moderate endoscopic sedation (using midazolam-fentanyl) to succeed in providing a pain-free examination. It is very unusual for patients at our center to report the recall of any significant discomfort. Can I drive home after sedation? No, you will need a driver (not a taxi or uber driver). We instruct you not to drive or operate potentially dangerous machinery until the day after your procedure. I want to see my colon…is that possible? Yes, we take multiple pictures of the colon that we share with you after the procedure. I always vomit after anesthetics…sometimes for hours. Will the drugs you use cause this reaction? Virtually never. Unlike procedures in the past which used a combination of midazolam, fentanyl and other opiod-type drugs (codeine, morphine, meperedine or Demerol, Lortab), propofol alone virtually never causes post-procedure symptoms. Please let us know if you have a history of vomiting due to anesthesia or opioid drugs. Sometimes we will use medications, such as Zofran to prevent post-procedural symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. I had sedation for endoscopy or colonoscopy this morning and now I have fever, chills and muscle aches – what is going on and what should I do? These symptoms are not expected and should be reported immediately to your physician. I have throat, neck, chest, or abdominal pain – what should I do? These symptoms are not expected and should be reported immediately to your physician. |