Emerging strategies in outpatient endoscopy sedation management: Recent trends and developments

Abstract

In this article we comment on the article by Walayat et al. Outpatient endoscopy has become vital in modern healthcare, providing efficient diagnostic and therapeutic interventions with minimal patient disruption. This study highlighted the key developments in sedation management, focusing on risk stratification and procedural settings to enhance safety. The findings demonstrate that a rigorous triage tool effectively reduces adverse events related to sedation and reversals. By identifying patients at higher risk, this tool helps mitigate complications during procedures. Importantly, appropriate risk stratification allows complex procedures to be performed under conscious sedation, significantly improving patient outcomes and optimizing resource allocation, particularly in constrained healthcare environments.

Keywords: Conscious sedation; Endoscopy; Risk stratification; Risk factors

Core Tip: Effective risk stratification tools play a crucial role in mitigating sedation-related complications during outpatient endoscopic procedures. By promptly identifying high-risk patients and directing them to suitable settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers or hospital outpatient departments, clinicians can enhance patient safety and procedural outcomes. This approach can have a significant impact on improving patient outcomes and resource allocation in limited healthcare settings. Future research should prioritize prospective trials to validate these findings and establish standardized protocols for risk assessment across diverse healthcare settings.