title: Assessing the safety of physician-directed nurse-administered propofol sedation in low-risk patients undergoing endoscopy and colonoscopy.
abstract: Background and study aimsPhysician-directed nurse-administered balanced propofol sedation (PhD NAPS) in patients undergoing endoscopy and/or colonoscopy is being increasingly utilized worldwide. However, this method of sedation is not universally employed in Australian hospitals due to concerns surrounding its safety. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of PhD NAPS in low-risk patients undergoing endoscopy and/or colonoscopy.Patients and methodsThis study was conducted at a single tertiary teaching hospital in Adelaide, Australia. It was a prospective study involving 1000 patients with an ASA score of 1 - 3 presenting with any indication for endoscopy, colonoscopy or both. A total of 981 patients (451 male) with a mean age of 53 years (range: 16 - 87) were recruited from January 2010 to October 2012. 440 endoscopies, 420 colonoscopies, and 121 combined procedures were performed. The intra-procedural adverse events (AEs) were recorded.ResultsThere were no major intra-procedural adverse events. Minor AEs occurred in 6.42 % of patients, and resolved spontaneously or with intravenous fluid boluses in all cases.ConclusionPhD NAPS is safe when the proceduralist and nursing staff are adequately trained and strict patient selection criteria are used.
authors.affiliation: Royal Adelaide Hospital - Gastroenerology, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Dharshan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sathananthan
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide Medical School, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Lyell McEwin Hospital - Gastroenterology, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nind
authors.affiliation: Lyell McEwin Hospital - Gastroenterology, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Biju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide/Lyell McEwin Hospital, Endoscopy Unit, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia.
authors.forename: Angelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide/Lyell McEwin Hospital, Endoscopy Unit, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide/Lyell McEwin Hospital, Endoscopy Unit, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia.
authors.forename: Kasia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Redel
authors.affiliation: Lyell McEwin Hospital - Anaesthetics, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Lyell McEwin Hospital - Gastroenterology, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Rajvinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh