The study aimed at evaluating the nature of adverse events associated with moderate sedation outside the OR and its relation to patient characteristics and outcomes. Researchers identified 52 cases with moderate sedation safety incidents out of approximately 143,000 cases during an eight-year period.
The study found:
• Oversedation leading to apnea occurred in 57.7 percent of cases, making it the most common adverse event.
• Oversedation, hypoxemia, reversal agent use, and prolonged bag-mask ventilation were most common in cardiology and gastroenterology suites.
• Higher body mass index was associated with increased rates of hypoxemia and intubation but lower rates of hypotension.
• Advanced age increased the rates of oversedation, hypoxemia and reversal agent use.
• Women were more likely than men to experience oversedation, hypotension, prolonged bag-mask ventilation and reversal agent use.
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