Study Finds Operator-Directed Sedation Complements General Anesthesia

1. Study Finds Operator-Directed
Sedation Complements General
Anesthesia
By: Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman MD

2. Study Finds Operator-Directed Sedation
Complements General Anesthesia
Based in Virginia, Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, is a board certified provider of anesthesiology services.
Having undertaken American Heart Association-funded research, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman completed
his fellowship work in cardiac anesthesia for adults and pediatrics.

3. Study Finds Operator-Directed Sedation
Complements General Anesthesia
Recent Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers reported in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions
points to operator-directed sedation as being a potentially sound alternative to general anesthesia at
the pediatric and congenital catheterization lab.

4. Study Finds Operator-Directed Sedation
Complements General Anesthesia
The findings reflected a seven year time frame at the hospital and involved 4,424 catheterization
procedures covering 2,547 patients, from infancy to age 25. Operator-directed sedation, involving a
nurse under interventional cardiologist oversight, resulted in fewer adverse events, as well as shorter
sheath and room times and quicker exit times.

5. Study Finds Operator-Directed Sedation
Complements General Anesthesia
This does not diminish the role of the experienced cardiac anesthesiologist. A key finding was that
time and cost savings should be weighed against the critical knowledge and resources offered by
the cardiac anesthesiologist in complex and urgent cases. According to a consensus statement
issues by the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Intervention and other entities, these come into
play most strongly in situations involving higher Catheterization Risk Score for Pediatrics, or
CRISP scores.