Procedures With Sedation

[Barsel]

When you have a procedure where you can choose to have sedation, what's the maximum amount (of whatever it is they give you ) they can give you? x

[sandyRoe]

The anaesthetist would calculate the correct dosage.

[Barsel]

Hi sandy, how do they calculate it though, there must be a maximum amount they can give? x

[sandyRoe]

You'd need an answer from someone with more knowledge than me. But just as an example, a 20st man would likely need a much bigger dose than a small child.

[Barsel]

I don't mean something like a full anaesthetic that knocks you out, just sedation where you're not suppose to remember anything and usually have a sleep afterwards. It's usually given by the doctor who is doing the procedure. x

[Dizmo]

As SandyRoe has mentioned, size and weight of the person is used to calculate. Also the knowledge of previous and current medical history is paramount.

[Dizmo]

Well, so it's not anesthetics then I suppose, since local anesthetics don't stop you from remember. I'd still say it's down to weight and previous/current medical conditions/history.

[Sqad]

It is guesswork.........but very, very educated guesswork based on the pharmacology of the drug and human and animal studies.

Remember, the human body doesn't always obey mathematical or scientific calculations...........but the medics usually get it right.

[Dizmo]

Sqad: So they take the same approach with pain relief medication as well? I suppose that would make sense.

[Sqad]

Dizmo.....more or less.

Remember the saying..." One man's meat is another man"s poison."

[Barsel]

The reason I was asking is because they never give me enough, but when i asked once if I could have more, they said they have guidelines and can only give so much. I can tell them afterwards the conversations they were having and while everybody else is snoring in the recovery room, I'm sitting up wide awake.

[Dizmo]

Barsel: What reason did you have the anesthetic for? If you don't mind me asking that is.

[Dizmo]

The last time I was under a general anesthetic I also could recall what they were saying but didn't feel any pain. How conscious were you? If you're not in any pain and they are able to proceed with what ever it is you're doing then they aren't going to start increasing it. I'm assuming you weren't distraught otherwise they would of 'put you under' more.

[bednobs]

it might well be local guidelines "in this unit you can give up to x mg of x drug"

[Dizmo]

bednobs: I don't think there is a guideline for anesthetic in that respect. Sedation maybe but anesthetic I think different. I'm waiting for Sqad to correct me :)

[anneasquith]

diz. I doubt you were under GA if you could hear surgeons conversation ?

[Dizmo]

I've been sedated before and my anxiety was so immense that the sedation did nothing at all. It was the physician that said that my anxiety may of caused it not to work. I opted for it on my second gastroscopy and it didn't help at all - it just made things awkward because they wouldn't let me leave on my own, even though I was up and walking around immediately after the procedure.

[Dizmo]

anneasquith: It was a GA and I was in operation for 4.5 hours. Obviously I couldn't remember everything that was being said and I certainly don't recall 'seeing' anything but I did prove it to them by telling them things that they had said whilst in the operating theater.

[Barsel]

The procedure I have every year is a broncoscophy (sp) and I do it voluntary to help with research but I told them last time that if they don't give me more sedation, I might pull out of the programme. x

[Dizmo]

Barsel: Maybe you're like me, just resilient to sedatives.

[Dizmo]

Right, I'm out of here, need to walk William. Toodles all.