title: Safe and effective conscious sedation administered by dermatologic surgeons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the experience with conscious sedation administered by dermatologic surgeons at an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient dermatologic surgery unit at an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty episodes of conscious sedation in 37 patients undergoing dermatologic surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravenous and inhaled conscious sedation was administered with strict monitoring during procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Efficacy was subjectively recorded by the administering physician and complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of conscious sedation by dermatologic surgeons was associated with good to excellent sedation with minimal complications. Extensive preparation and training were necessary, and strict guidelines devised by a conscious sedation task force were followed. Emergency preparedness was high, although it was not used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conscious sedation can be safely and effectively administered by dermatologic surgeons in a hospital-based outpatient surgical unit after extensive training. Emergency preparedness is essential, and conservative guidelines should be followed.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905,USA. otley.clark@mayo.edu
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Otley
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000592:standards*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009506:Nevus / Q000601:surgery; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015595:Skin Aging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000601:surgery