Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.30 No.5(4)

Theme Optimal Sedation in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy : Understanding and Using the New Guidelines Correctly
Title Benefits and Present Status of Sedation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Japan
Publish Date 2015/05
Author Satoshi Tanabe Research and Development Center for New Medical Frontiers, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Author Tohru Sasaki Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Author Chikatoshi Katada Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Author Mizutomo Azuma Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Author Kenji Ishido Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
Author Wasaburo Koizumi Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine
[ Summary ] Sedation during endoscopic diagnosis and treatment can eliminate patient anxiety and discomfort. It can also effectively improve patient acceptance of endoscopic procedures and increase the degree of procedure satisfaction. Sedation has been confirmed to be associated with a higher proportion of patients who are willing to undergo re‒examination. It has also been shown to improve endoscopists' accuracy and completion rates of endoscopic examinations and therapeutic procedures. In Japan, sedation is performed during upper and lower gastrointestinal tract screening examinations in approximately 80 % of clinics and 40 % of general and university hospitals. In contrast, sedation is performed in almost all patients who undergo therapeutic endoscopy. Although the incidence of procedural complications related to sedation is extremely low, some deaths have been reported. Careful management is therefore particularly important in sedated patients who undergo endoscopic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
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