It seems the government and other specialties are trying hard to make sedation as difficult as possible in the ED. We must persevere to provide the best procedural sedation for the maximal comfort and safety for our patients.
I'm reposting it here so I can post part II sometime this week.
This episode, Part I, covers general concepts on sedation as well as ketamine and etomidate/fentanyl.
Part II will cover propofol, ketofol, and dexmedetomidine.
Part III, will cover really difficult sedations.
Part IV discusses whether we need ETCO2
My friend Reub Strayer has a great PSA checklist as well
Here is the set-up for making your own ETCO2 Nasal Cannulae
Additional New Information
More on EMCrit
Additional Resources
You Need an EMCrit Membership to see this content. Login here if you already have one.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (21.0MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Spotify | RSS | More
Professor
Nassau University Medical Center
No conflicts of interest (coi).
- EMCrit 396 – Some Philosophy of Surgical Airways (Crics) and What to Do When the Doom is Lower Down (Central Airway Obstruction) - March 7, 2025
- EMCrit 395 – Stellate Ganglion Block – Not Whether, but When? - February 23, 2025
- EMCrit 394 – CV-EMCrit – Inotrope Basics Part 2 – Specific Scenarios - February 7, 2025
An anonymous reader wrote: Great podcast ! I have a comment on the procedural sedation talk that was especially good. We have a long and successful experience using Etomidate for procedural sedation except we usually use Alfentanil instead of Fentanyl to make duration even shorter when needed. Many people bad-mouth Etomidate because of “Myoclonus” . Many studies also cite frequent Myoclonus with it’s use. We rarely see myoclonus and this is why I think that is so. In our protocol the nurses are instructed to give it over 90 seconds. In studies I have read there is no mention on… Read more »
Scott, Great talk. Here’s my question: I like your idea about the 15 liters Facemask with continous CO2 monitoring. I think that the buffer of oxygen is safe, and I am a total believer in your concept of watching the CO2 – I am amazed that there hasn’t been a national drive to get these everywhere – worked several EDs with none available. (I am currently on a crusade to get this CO2 monitoring in my ED.) What about those patients who are CO2 retainers at baseline, wouldn’t the high flow oxygen prevent their breathing drive. Since I never used… Read more »
Mike,
These are very high risk patients and probably should be intubated or sedated with an LMA whether that is done by you or by anesthesia depends on your ED.
Scott,
Great podcast as always! I’ve become apprehensive about etomidate recently because of 2 instances of myoclonus that made a shoulder reduction and a hip much more difficult than they should have been. Is it a question of fast vs SLOW IV push as a previous reader asked?