The sedation (of the Latin sedatio ) is an appeasing by means of a Sédatif (sedation of the pain).

The French company of anesthesia reanimation has defines (in 2000) sedation as being use of the medicamentous or not, intended means to ensure the physical and psychic comfort of the patient, and to facilitate the techniques of care.

Sedation is very much used in the intensive care units and by the doctors of the SAMU, it makes it possible to the patient not to suffer and not to be aware of what arrives during an amount of time. Moreover certain pathologies (as a state of evil convulsif epileptic/) requires a sedation to put an end to the symptoms.

Means used

The drugs used vary from a country with another, in France one mainly uses the Fentanyl or the Sufentanil for the pain, associated with the Midazolam for the hypnotic effect.

Of other produced like the Propofol, the Kétamine or the Thiopental is sometimes used, according to the case.

Evaluation of the level of sedation

The scale of ramsey makes it possible to simply evaluate the level of sedation of a patient.

Complications

The obstruction of the respiratory tracts, hypotension, and the apnea are frequent complications of sedation.

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