What is the most common complication of sedation?
When compared with local anesthesia alone, the two most significant negative variables introduced by moderate sedation, as well as deep sedation and general anesthesia, are the added risks for either respiratory depression, ie, hypoventilation, or airway obstruction in the deeply sedated or unconscious patient.
Potential side effects of sedation, although there are fewer than with general anesthesia, include headache, nausea, and drowsiness. These side effects usually go away quickly. Because levels of sedation vary, it's important to be monitored during surgery to make sure you don't experience complications.
The most common adverse events were oversedation/apnea (60.2 percent), hypoxemia (42.2 percent) and aspiration (24.1 percent). 2. The most common unplanned interventions were the use of reversal agents (55.4 percent) and prolonged bag-mask ventilation (25.3 percent).
Depending on the procedure, the level of sedation may range from minimal (you'll feel drowsy but able to talk) to deep (you probably won't remember the procedure). Moderate or deep sedation may slow your breathing, and in some cases, you may be given oxygen. Analgesia may also contribute to drowsiness.
Sedation is now increasingly considered as an adverse effect which should be avoided rather than a desirable effect especially when treating disorders such as anxiety or depression. This article discusses the sedative properties and mechanisms of different classes of psychotropic drugs.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Dry mouth.
- Sore throat.
- Muscle aches.
- Itching.
- Shivering.
- Sleepiness.
Having an allergic reaction during the administration of anesthesia can happen, but it's not very common. It's estimated that 1 out of every 10,000 who receive anesthesia have an allergic reaction in the period surrounding their surgery.
Benzodiazepines are the most widely used group of sedative drugs. Due to their safety and improved effectiveness, they have largely replaced barbiturates as drugs of choice in the treatment of anxiety.
Potential problems with conscious sedation include oversedation, undersedation, and drug reactions.
All sedation techniques are associated with the risk of cardiopulmonary complications, such as hypoventilation, respiratory depression, apnea, hypotension, and bradycardia [7].
What is the most serious complication of anesthesia?
Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)
While most healthy patients tolerate this transient hypotension, there are reports of cardiac arrest occurring following the placement of spinal or epidural anesthetics. Extra care must be taken in patients receiving neuraxial anesthesia that have a cardiac history.
The most common causes of anaesthesia related deaths are: 1) circulatory failure due to hypovolaemia in combination with overdosage of anaesthetic agents such as thiopentone, opioids, benzodiazepines or regional anaesthesia; 2) hypoxia and hypoventilation after for instance undetected oesophageal intubation, difficult ...

Nausea and vomiting: The effects of IV sedation on the brain and gastrointestinal system may induce nausea or vomiting. Certain patients are at a higher risk, such as those who are prone to motion sickness. Headaches: As sedation medications exit a patient's system it can cause headaches.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1893095/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14994325/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7483110/
- https://www.aegisanesthesiapartners.com/anesthesia-risks-complications/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/conscious-sedation
- https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/anesthesia-101/types-of-anesthesia/ivmonitored-sedation/
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/List-of-Sedatives.aspx
- https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/anesthesia-101/effects-of-anesthesia/
- https://bmcanesthesiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12871-020-01048-0
- https://www.gulchdentalstudio.com/general-dentistry/sedation/iv-risks
- https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/5-findings-on-adverse-events-during-moderate-sedation.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/anesthesia/about/pac-20384568
- https://www.healthline.com/health/anesthesia-allergy