Surgeon-Delivered Sedation for Outpatient Cosmetic Surgery

Abstract

Introduction:Sedation is a valuable anesthetic technique used in settings ranging from hospitals to physicians' offices. This article describes more than 200 sedations given under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon. The main objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this technique and to determine whether individualized sedation results in significant differences in medications given. In addition, pre-sedation evaluation, paying particular attention to upper airway assessment, is discussed.Materials and Methods:A retrospective chart review was completed on 150 patient records from a private cosmetic surgery practice.Results:For the period studied, 218 surgeon-supervised sedations provided adequate and safe anesthesia for outpatient facial and body cosmetic surgical procedures. Breast surgeries required significantly higher doses of ketamine and propofol compared with the other procedures. The lowest amounts of ketamine and propofol were used during facial surgeries.Conclusions:In select patients, surgeon-supervised sedations are safe and effective for outpatient cosmetic surgical procedures. Less intense sedation is required for facial surgeries than for other procedures. A pre-sedation evaluation, paying particular attention to upper airway assessment, should be completed by the surgeon.