Conscious Sedation: For a TEE, Is It Always Required?

Conscious sedation is an anesthesia technique frequently used to facilitate transesophageal echocardiography, but it is not really necessary for performing routine adult cases. Children and complicated circumstances generally do warrant sedation. Using such anesthesia does increase complication rates and financial costs, therefore, omitting it should be considered when appropriate. Conscious sedation does diminish pain and anxiety, but results in patients being temporarily not decisional; without sedation they remain at full decisional capacity and can resume routine activities immediately after the procedure. (Echocardiography 2010;27:74‐76)