Learn More About Endoscopic Anesthesia

By Jeffrey Martin


An endoscopic operation is conducted when a patient is in a sleepy state. To achieve the state, a drug must be injected into the body by a medical doctor to ensure that the operating surgeon doing the gastrointestinal endoscopy has an easy time. In most cases, endoscopic anesthesia is injected to make a patient comfortable during the operation.

The drug is administered to sedate the patient thus ensuring a painless procedure. The procedures can also be done with less sedative medication, but it all depends with the patient as some request the practitioner to administer more sedative drugs, however, this comes at an extra cost. The dosage of the anesthesia depends on the patients sedation need during the operation procedures but with the help of the medical practitioner.

Most of the gastrointestinal operations conducted become complicated. To reduce complications, doctors are working with anesthesiologists to ensure that the patient is adequately sedated to make the procedure swift. Anesthetic drugs usually are used with the aim of making the operation efficiency and ensuring that the patient does not remember the events of the operation which can be daunting.

The sedation offered during an endoscopy differs with the most common being; general, deep, moderate and minimal. Decades ago doctors were conducting the surgery without using any form of sedation. When the doctor has administered mild sedation, patients can still have his cardiovascular and system working, and he can give a response to any verbal or tactile provocation.

The body cells cannot be aroused, however, on frequent painful stimulation, a patient can respond to this stimuli. When sedative medication is administered, the patient is not in a position to breath this requires the practitioner to use air support system. In cases where the practitioner uses general anesthesia, the patients cardiovascular system is affected and most likely the patient is not in a position to give response even to painful stimuli.

The drugs being used during the procedure requires proper titration. The medical practitioner doing the titration should ensure that he has the right measures to avoid giving the patient an overdose which may cause fatalities. Pharmacological knowledge is essential for the success of the titration processes. Every person has a different response to sedatives. Before doing the endoscopy the surgeon can assess the individual response to give the right amount of anesthetic drug.

The drugs should only be administered after briefing the patient. Briefing entails giving the patient the right information on the side effects, advantages, disadvantages and any possible risk that may arise from using the drug. With this information, the patient is able to make the right choice whether he will still use the drug. The doctor should give the patient anesthesia depending on their preferred level of sedation during the gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.

When undergoing a gastrointestinal endoscopy, you are encouraged to avoid fluids and solid foods to ensure that your tract is clear. This clearance will make the procedure more successful and help you to get permanent therapy on the illness that you are having on the tract.




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