Sedación Intravenosa

Intravenous (IV) Sedation is a form of general anaesthesia where the sedative medication is administered directly into the patient's blood. The patient is put into a “twilight/sleep” state, where they are fully relaxed, and calm.

IV Sedation is completely safe. Our staff members have medical practice licenses and years of experience dealing with sedation. Plus, the techniques we use have been proven to be safe for everyone.

IV sedation may be a covered benefit through your insurance. Speak to our Financial Coordinator for further details.

No. The Anesthesiologist creates a hospital like setting and is focused on the patient. Extra people in the room create distractions and compromise the sterile environment.

Approximately 2 hours, depending upon the amount of treatment.

Our Anesthesiologist will constantly monitor heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels to make sure the patient does not have a negative reaction to sedation. Blood pressure will be taken before and after the procedure.

Children understand and respond well to the following explanation.

Anesthesia is medicine that helps you sleep during surgery so that you do not see, hear, or feel the surgery. IV is a tiny plastic straw that goes in your hand or arm and allows your body to 'drink' the medicine. In order for the straw to get into the right place, there is a small poke.

The Anesthesiologist will review all medications the patient may take or should avoid the day of the appointment. Be sure to inform the office/Anesthesiologist of any and all medications the patient takes. If the patient is told they can take their normal medication, it can be taken with a small sip of water or one tablespoon of applesauce.

The patient should be dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and in a short sleeve shirt. Bring a change of clothing and a blanket. If possible, have your child wear a diaper or pull-up.

The presence of food/drink in the stomach can lead to aspiration of the stomach contents into the lungs. This could lead to serious lung complications, hospitalizations, and even death (The patient may vomit, which could then go into the lungs and create serious issues).

Every sedation/anesthesia experience is a little different. As children become sleepy from anesthesia, some simply close their eyes and fall asleep smoothly, while others enter a stage of excitement before drifting off to sleep.

Patients may be slightly disoriented or "loopy" for a bit after coming off sedation. It all depends on the type of procedure and the amount of medication used.

Everyone's experience is a little different, some children will wake quickly and may be awake before their families arrive to see them. Other children may remain sleeping for several minutes or hours from the effects of the anesthesia, may cry, seem inconsolable, or have difficulty recognizing familiar objects or people.

This behavior is not usually related to pain and typically children do not remember it. This wake up is known as "emergence delirium" and will pass with time. We do not recommend forcing your child to wake. In our experience, children often have a gentler and more comfortable wakening when unprompted and on their own.

Children will not have their usual balance and coordination after sedation/anesthesia. Although young children may be persistent in wanting to walk on their own, it is unsafe for them to do so for several hours after their procedure.

You should avoid having your child do anything that may require coordination or quick response during the rest of the day. Please have your child avoid activities such as:

• Walking up or down stairs
• Riding a bike/skateboard/ATV
• Swimming
• Using playground equipment

Begin with clear liquids (e.g., apple juice, Jell-O, water, broth, 7-up, Gatorade). When liquids are tolerated for at least 1-2 hours, then the patient may be progressed to a soft diet (e.g., applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, eggs, soft noodles, etc.) and then to a regular diet.

Muscle aches or sore throat are possible after general anesthesia and will usually disappear within 24-36 hours.  A fever of up to 101 degrees F may develop for the first 12 hours. Over-the-counter Children’s Tylenol/Advil with plenty of liquids will tend to alleviate this condition as well as treat any post-operative discomfort.

The treating doctor will let you know if further post op appointments are needed for your child.

The Anesthesiologist is available for questions, should there be any. They make sure the patient receives quality care and are happy and relaxed while at our office.

IV is a safe, alternative method of administering sedation. It is highly effective at minimizing a child’s anxiety and/or discomfort, and promoting a calm and positive treatment experience.

The key is making sure parents are prepared and fully informed. If a question should arise that you are uncertain of, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly staff. Our Financial Coordinators, IV Coordinator, and Management are here to help!