Sedation and analgesia for procedures outside the operating room.

The volume of literature concerning sedation and analgesia for procedures outside the operating room has increased greatly over the past several years. Information relating to sedation risks and complications, the development of sedation guidelines, and now specific sedation techniques has appeared. The following section will trace the development of the most recent sedation guidelines and identify the key elements for inclusion into institutional sedation guidelines. The risks and complications associated with sedation will be addressed and an approach to providing sedation and analgesia for procedures outside the operating room will be presented. The important characteristics of several common drugs used for sedation and analgesia will also be discussed.