Sedation and sedationless endoscopy.

Sedation and analgesia are provided routinely for patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. This article reviews the clinical experience with the medications commonly used for this purpose. Furthermore, advantages and disadvantages of alternative agents are also discussed. There are multiple practice guidelines available to the gastrointestinal endoscopist and both the attributes and limitations of these guidelines are presented. In an effort to control costs and improve productivity, sedationless endoscopy has been introduced into the practice of some endoscopists. The advantages and limitations of sedationless endoscopy, as well as the clinical experience to date, are reviewed.