Recovery and Transport of Sedated Patients

Abstract

Patients who receive sedation or analgesia for diagnostic and medical procedures remain at significant risk for associated adverse events until the pharmacologic effects of the sedative or analgesic agent(s) subside (1). In some circumstances, patients may be at greater risk for problems after the procedure is completed, when painful or other stimuli are removed (2,3). Vigilant physiologic monitoring and care of the sedated patient must therefore continue during transportation to recovery areas, and throughout the postprocedure period until the patient can be safely discharged to an unmonitored setting. Recent sedation guidelines and standards of care stipulate that such care be provided by qualified individuals throughout the sedation episode until discharge criteria are met (1,4–7). The current emphasis on cost containment and efficiency in most health care settings may result in increased risk to the patient (8). Transportation of sedated patients by nonqualified personnel or premature discharge of the patient may occur in busy diagnostic settings that prioritize rapid patient turnover. Such “production pressure” should never circumvent the caregiver’s ability to provide adequate monitoring to sedated patients. This chapter examines important considerations for the monitoring and care of sedated patients during transportation and recovery.