Pain Management
In 2010, Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology began to use monitored anesthesia care (MAC) for procedures done at our Endoscopy Centers, which allows us to use one FDA-approved drug for sedation, as opposed to two or more routinely used in the past. The sedative, Propofol, is administered by one of our 14 certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), while the Gastroenterologist attends to the procedure.
What’s more, its use is not commonly associated with the nausea and grogginess that can be experienced from other anesthetics.
Our CRNAs are highly trained and certified in administering the drug. In fact, all of them have earned their master’s degree in nursing anesthesia, are licensed nurses and have a minimum of five years of clinical experience.
To ensure that Propofol delivers the highest level of overall sedation for our patients, RMG conducted an in-house Patient Satisfaction and Pain Management Survey at our Endoscopy Centers. We found that the percentage of patients reporting pain during their procedure using the two-drug approach of years past was 23.6% (drugs Fentanyl and Versed were used).
In a follow-up survey of patients who were only administered Propofol during their procedure, just 2.6% patients reported feeling any pain. This was an 89% decrease in the number of patients who reported feeling pain. The survey also showed a 53% decrease in the number of patients who reported feeling a sense of nausea and their overall dissatisfaction with sedation received at our Endoscopy Centers decreased by 88%.
Propofol offers many advantages as a sedative for endoscopy, including:
- Improved patient comfort.
- Better polyp detection rates.
- Faster onset of sedation.
- Faster patient recovery.
Don’t just take our word for it…
Listen to the experience of an actual patient as he compares Propofol to other sedatives. Click here!
