The Complete Guide to Monitoring the Sedation Patient

This course is worth 3 CE hours. 

Sedation offers hope to anxious, fearful, and phobic patients. It is safe for most patients and rewards provider dentists with a host of benefits. But it requires knowledgeable patient care and monitoring from the beginning of the sedation appointment until the conclusion.

Join world-class educator Dr. Anthony Feck, DMD for an informative DOCS Education course on the important components you and your team need for safe and effective sedation:

Monitoring Vital Statistics During Sedation

The Goals of Monitoring:

Monitor Consciousness – Verification of the patient’s level of consciousness is critical to determining the level of sedation. A patient that readily responds to verbal stimulation is either at a level of anxiolysis (mild sedation) or conscious sedation (moderate sedation). Any patient sedated by the enteral method should be in one of these two levels of sedation.

Monitor Physiological Parameters – Three vital physiological statistics must be monitored at all times while the sedation patient is seated in the operatory. These parameters include heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure.

Monitoring objectives include:

• Pre-sedation baselines: Recognize pre-sedation variations to normal vital signs. Obtain baseline values for physical and psychological parameters. 
• Know how to use your monitoring equipment and set up alarms.
• Understand the status of the oxygenation of the patient’s tissues, and how to raise oxygen levels.
• Identify cardiac conditions that should raise red flags for sedation.
• Understand the Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve.
• Review the CAEBOR acronym. 
• Review blood pressure monitoring, pre-sedation. 
• Understand sedation for people with hypertension.
• Understand the Pulse Oximeter, End-Tidal CO2 Monitoring, and Capnography.

Standard of Care Doctrine for Monitoring

To provide your patients with the safest, comprehensive care available, it’s crucial for the dentist and team to be knowledgeable and proactive when monitoring sedation. Standard of Care objectives include:

• Be aware of common and uncommon encounters during sedation.
• Review and monitor blood pressure through to conclusion.
• Airway compromise prevention.
• Review the Oxygen Saturation Alarm Algorithm
• Learn to safely establish consciousness and the conclusion of sedation.

Purchase of this course grants access for one year and requires an internet connection, a computer with video and audio capabilities, and in some cases, Adobe Reader to view handouts and articles. 

You can download this course and watch it anywhere using the DOCS APP. Get it on Google Play or the Apple Store.

Watch the video and complete the quiz to earn 3 CE credits.