Twilight sedation (analgosedation)

Twi­light seda­ti­on, medi­cal­ly known as anal­go­se­da­ti­on, is a com­bi­na­ti­on of pain-reli­e­ving and cal­ming medi­ci­nes given through a vein. Pati­ents feel rela­xed and drow­sy but brea­the on their own and usual­ly remain respon­si­ve. It is not a gene­ral anaesthetic.

Appli­ca­ti­on

Twi­light seda­ti­on is used for out­pa­ti­ent pro­ce­du­res that would feel stressful under local anaes­the­sia alo­ne, such as eyelid sur­gery, smal­ler lifts or lipo­suc­tion. The local anaes­the­tic blocks pain in the ope­ra­ting area, while the seda­ti­on reli­e­ves anxie­ty and ten­si­on. Many pati­ents bare­ly remem­ber the pro­ce­du­re afterwards.

Good to know

Breathing, pul­se and oxy­gen satu­ra­ti­on are moni­to­red con­ti­nuous­ly during seda­ti­on. A short reco­very peri­od fol­lows; on the same day pati­ents must not dri­ve or make important decis­i­ons and should be coll­ec­ted by someone. Fas­ting rules usual­ly app­ly before­hand. Pos­si­ble side effects include nau­sea, grog­gi­ness or, rare­ly, depres­sed breathing.