Sedation is a form of anaesthesia where you are not fully asleep. This method offers many advantages:

• You will be in a calm, comfortable state
• The proceduralist can perform the procedure with local anaesthesia
• You may not be exposed to the side effects of general anaesthesia
• This is a very effective and safe method for patients with significant medical problems

This is the standard form of anaesthesia for procedures such as:

• Gastroscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Cataract surgery
• Skin surgery
• Radiological investigations (such as Angiogram of the heart)

Sedation may be offered to patients undergoing spinal or epidural anaesthesia or peripheral nerve blocks.

Your anaesthetist will discuss your individual risks with you. We encourage you to raise your specific questions and concerns with them prior to your procedure.