Brief Review of Procedural Sedation & Analgesia

Procedural sedation and analgesia (formerly referred to as Conscious Sedation) can be a very valuable tool in the armamentarium of the physician practicing in the emergency setting. Several studies have shown it is (probably) underutilized. When asked why, the most common response was “lack of training (for both the physician and other personnel).” This article will review some of the clinical issues regarding procedural sedation and analgesia.