Millions of colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in the US each year. In 2009, more than 55 million gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were performed.
Endoscopy is usually a safe procedure and the risk of serious complications is very low. In looking at colonoscopies, which constitute about half of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, overall serious adverse event rate was 2.8 per 1000 procedures and the death rate was just 0.03 percent, according to guidelines published by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
However, the risk of complication rises with the use of sedation. The goal of sedation when used in colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures is safely and effectively manage any pain, discomfort, or anxiety the patient may have during the procedure.
In research presented at this year’s annual conference of the Society for Technology in Anesthesia, Michael W. Jopling, MD (NorthStar Anesthesia, Springfield Regional Medical Center, Springfield, OH) will discuss his study, which won “Best of Show”, that investigated the incidence of rescue events and adverse outcomes during gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures performed with sedation administration.
Dr. Jopling found that:
Compared to patients with SpO2 sensor used only, patients used capnography sensors (with and without SpO2 sensors) associated with 47% reduction in the odds of death and 10% reduction in the odds of naloxone and/or flumazenil administration for inpatient, and 82% reduction in the odds of death and 62% reduction in the odds of naloxone and/or flumazenil use for outpatients.
PPAHS will be interviewing Dr. Jopling as part of our clinical education series, which features doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists discussing how they have successfully implemented continuous patient monitoring in their hospitals.
Dr. Jopling is a member of PPAHS’s board of advisors.
If you would like to receive notification about the release of Dr. Jopling’s interview or other clinician interviews, please complete the information below:
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