Endoscopic sedation and monitoring practice in Germany: re-evaluation from the first nationwide survey 3 years after the implementation of an evidence and consent based national guideline.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The use of sedation (e. g., of short-acting propofol) for gastrointestinal endoscopy has shown an upward trend in the USA and Europe over the last decade. To improve patient's safety different nationwide guidelines have been developed. This survey aimed at providing nationwide re-evaluated data 3 years after the implementation of consent- and evidence-based national guideline on sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy.
METHODS: A 24-item survey regarding current practices of endoscopy, sedation and monitoring in gastrointestinal endoscopy was sent to 4 405 members of the German Society of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS).
RESULTS: A total of 741/4405 (17 %) questionnaires were returned. Compared to 2007 we documented a further increase of the use of sedation during the performance of esophagogastro-duodenoscopies (EGDs) (82 vs. 74 % in 2007) and colonoscopies (91 vs. 87 % in 2007), accompanied with an increased rate of using propofol as a sedative agent in 97 vs. 74 % of the cases in 2007. In contrast the use of midazolam substantially decreased to 69 % versus 82 % in 2007. Most commonly used sedation regimens are still propofol ± benzodiazepines (43 vs. 38 % in 2007), while a combination of midazolam ± opioid decreased to 15 % versus 35 % in 2007. Unchanged to data from 2007, patients were routinely monitored by pulse oximetry (99 %). Routine use of an automated blood pressure monitoring increased to 40 % (versus 29 % in 2007) and the use of electrocardiography monitoring nearly doubled to 24 vs. 13 % in 2007. Supplemental oxygen is nowadays routinely administered in 64 % compared to 34 % of the cases in 2007. Regarding the administration of sedation we observed a profound increase of nurse-administered propofol sedation (NAPS; 73 % in 2011, 39 % in 2007) with a decrease of endoscopist-directed propofol sedation (29 % in 2011 vs. 59 % in 2007). However, monitored anaesthesia care was still only rarely used in Germany (2 %).
CONCLUSION: After the implementation of the first national sedation guideline the use of propofol has become the most popular sedation regime in Germany, mainly administered as NAPS by trained nurses as a standard procedure. Automated blood pressure measurements and ECG recording were more often implemented in the monitoring practice and also the routine use of supplemental oxygen has been clearly improved. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.