A survey: conscious sedation with epidural and zygapophyseal injections: is it necessary?
BACKGROUND
Substantial variation exists regarding the use of sedation before interventional spine techniques. Patient preference should play an important role in decision making regarding the need for sedation. However, little is known about patients' anxiety levels before spinal injections and their perceptions about the necessity of sedation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine patient perception for need for sedation before epidural steroid injections and zygapophyseal joint injections.


METHODS
Survey of consecutive spinal injection patients in an outpatient spine center.


METHODS
500 consecutive lumbar, thoracic, and cervical patients receiving spinal injections.


METHODS
A 12-item questionnaire assessing patients' perceived anxiety before to a spinal injection.


METHODS
Subjects were given the questionnaire after their spinal injection. Percentages requesting sedation for a first and potential second procedure were assessed. Additionally, anxiety level and pain rating, location of injection, age, sex, and other medication use were analyzed to determine the effect on the request for sedation.


RESULTS
17% of patients questioned requested sedation before an injection, and 28% would request sedation if they were to have a second injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine sedation before diagnostic and therapeutic injections is not necessary as the majority of patients would not request sedation before the procedure when given the option. However, in some patients sedation is indicated, and all patients would benefit from educational material on sedation before the injection.
Cucuzzella
Tony R
TR
Christiana Spine Center, 4735 Ogletown-Stanton Rd. Ste. 2210, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
Delport
Elva G
EG
Kim
Nancy
N
Marley
Julie
J
Pruitt
Christine
C
Delport
Anton G
AG
D001007:Anxiety; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007267:Injections / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives