- Written By: S.E. Smith
- Edited By: Bronwyn Harris
- Last Modified Date: 12 November 2011
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Twilight anesthesia is a type of anesthetic technique in which the patient is sedated but not unconscious. It is used for a variety of surgical procedures and for an assortment of reasons. Just like regular anesthesia, twilight anesthesia is designed to make a patient feel more comfortable and to minimize the pain associated with the procedure being performed. This technique carries fewer risks than general anesthesia, making it a popular choice among patients and surgeons for simple medical procedures. As with any anesthesia, twilight anesthesia should always be performed by a certified anesthesiologist, who will interview the patient before the procedure and monitor the patient's health while he or she is under anesthesia.
Medications Used
This type of anesthesia is also known as twilight sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation and conscious sedation. The anesthesia relieves anxiety on the part of the patient and creates a state of amnesia so that the patient will not remember the procedure later. Many of the drugs used to induce twilight anesthesia are the same as those used in general anesthesia, but the dosages are much lower. Among the drugs that might be administered intravenously are midazolam, fentanyl, valium, ketamine or a type of benzodiazepine. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, might be administered instead by having the patient inhale it.
A local or regional anesthetic is always applied to the area on which the operation is being performed. This anesthetic ensures that the patient will not feel pain during the procedure. Depending on the level of sedation, the patient might be awake enough to talk with members of the surgical staff, which can be extremely useful for some procedures. In other case, the patient remains in a state of light sleep while the surgery is performed. The drugs used in twilight anesthesia act quickly can can be reversed quickly, so the patient can be woken up in a matter of minutes.
Risks and Concerns
As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved with twilight anesthesia. Some side effects that might be experienced after twilight sedation include dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea and blurred vision. Drug allergies or interactions also might cause an unfavorable result. This is why it is important for a patient to pay attention during the pre-surgical interview and to submit to blood work so that medical professionals can look for potential problem areas. People who experience extreme anxiety or claustrophobia should make this known to the anesthesiologist, who might choose to use a deeper level of sedation on these patients.
Patients who are interested in twilight anesthesia should discuss it with their surgeons. As a general rule, if a procedure is eligible for twilight sedation, the surgeon will recommend it. There might be a reason why twilight anesthesia is not suitable for a particular surgery. When this is the case, the surgeon or anesthesiologist will discuss the available options with the patient.
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Discuss this Article
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anon229034
Post 22 |
i have to get a biopsy done and they said they would give me twilight anesthesia. I am afraid I will spaz out though, because I have anxiety issues. |
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anon202677
Post 21 |
Yesterday I had four wisdom teeth removed under IV sedation. The laughing gas administered made no noticeable difference on my awareness or behavior, although it may have reduced my heart rate. Once given the IV sedation, I began hallucinating in less than ten seconds and was conscious for the entire procedure, but unaware of what was going on. Extreme visual hallucinations were incorporated into the distorted sounds which I believe to have been the operating noise. The next thing I remember to be real was being wheeled out into a post-op room and a girl was next to me, clearly in the same state I was in and I kept trying to tell the nurse how awesome I was tripping. It gradually wore off on the car ride home, but I immediately fell asleep after taking a vicodin. |
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anon188006
Post 20 |
The nurse and doc at my procedure said I was kicking my legs, my head was going and I was itching. They gave me something related to versed. This was for an injection i need in my back. All I remember was them hooking me up to the monitors and tapping my finger and then I was out like light. They said an hour and I was out for at least two. They gave me a different twilight med because I said I itched from demerol and was kicking and doing other stuff from that drug. Apparently, I might be allergic to twilight meds. That was from an ercp. |
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anon167865
Post 19 |
I just had a defibrillator put in my chest. While under twilight, my blood pressure dropped so they had to wake me up. I was awake for the whole 90 minute procedure - it was horrible. I did get knocked out with a different anesthesia the last 5 minutes because they had to test the device and didnt want me to experience the test. I want to be totally out next time I have surgery tube down the throat etc. |
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anon157250
Post 18 |
I had it yesterday for a gastroscopy, or maybe it's called an endoscopy. It totally knocked me out, but i remember resisting them and being pinned down. Today i have popped blood vessels all over my face which is why i was seeking out info online to see if this is common. So far, I see nothing. Wondering if it was from the resisting (last time i got these was during childbirth). |
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anon147230
Post 17 |
I had it when I had surgery on my ankle. I was only 13, and apparently i told my doctor (who was foreign) to go back to India and called a nurse a moron. I don't remember anything else! |
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anon120341
Post 16 |
I was put under twilight anesthesia today for a colonoscopy, my 3rd one. The other two were simple, didn't feel or remember a thing. Apparently over the last year, I became completely immune to whatever they use, because this time I never even got tired, I felt everything, and I remember everything. Not a good time. I was talking the whole time, telling them it wasn't working and they pumped the max amount of whatever drug it was, apparently my BP dropped way down, but I was completely aware and immediately after the procedure I got up and walked to the waiting room to change. I could have driven myself home easily. I never felt any change, and I'm pretty pissed off at the surgery center right now. I'll have very specific requirements for the anesthesiologist next time. |
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anon96681
Post 15 |
I would like to know what the drug is they use. Anyone know? |
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anon85786
Post 14 |
No, the eating drinking rules are the same. |
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anon79068
Post 13 |
Twilight Sedation was used on me for my colonoscopy. I don't remember a thing about the procedure. The last thing I remember was the nurse saying to me this stuff works pretty fast -- and I was out. The next thing I know I'm in a recovery area, and the nurse is asking me if I want sprite or ginger ale to drink? The procedure began at 8 a.m., and I was in my home by 10:30 a.m. I did take a long nap after getting home. but for me this was the way to go. No side effects, just a little groggy, and they were right, because I don't remember a thing about the actual procedure. If it's available to you, it's definitely the way to go. One thing: you do need someone there to take you home afterward. They won't let you leave without assistance from someone, and they make you sign paperwork. No driving yourself. They won't even let you take a cab home alone. You need a family member or friend to take you home. |
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anon72159
Post 12 |
Post 1: The rules are the same with twilight sedation: No eating or drinking prior to the procedure. Post 2: Anything allegedly said while sedated is inadmissible. That's why all consents are signed prior to anaesthesia. |
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anon70978
Post 11 |
I had this for a colonoscopy. I didn't like it at all. I went into a deep sleep. I was hard to wake up. My blood pressure dropped to 68 over 30 and it took awhile for it to come up. The next day I sent to work and was just out of it. My thinking was not clear. I couldn't remember things. I couldn't remember where I had just sat a paper down. I called my doctor and they said it was probably a drug hang over. No thank you! I will never do that again. Scary stuff for me! |
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anon68737
Post 10 |
I just had hernia surgery under twilight. All I remember was being moved from the table to the operating table and waking up and getting dressed. It was like a normal nap. No pain, no remembering the procedure. No side effects afterward. Great stuff. |
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anon65373
Post 9 |
Toady, I got four wisdom teeth removed. After strapping me down, they applied the twilight anesthesia. I have complete amnesia, I remember being told the light would begin to waver and I remember them transferring me to a stretcher to move me into another room until my ride arrived. I prefer twilight for many reasons. I feel way less groggy after it, I feel much more comfortable that some part of me is aware and in control. |
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anon49655
Post 8 |
I'm wondering how long this effect wears on though? |
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anon47112
Post 7 |
I just had twilight sedation today to remove all four of my wisdom teeth and I had a very positive experience. I had complete amnesia as to what was happening. I only remember the very beginning when the oral surgeon was mentioning how long my roots are and an accident he once had on his bicycle =S or I may have very well hallucinated all that. =P |
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anon40627
Post 6 |
I recently had a procedure and this drug was administered. I was awake the entire time, I vary much aware of what I was saying and doing. I remember everything and felt some pain during the procedure but not any amount that was intolerable. But what I was wondering why I visually hallucinated under this drug. Did it just have an adverse effect on me, and why wasn’t this mentioned in the article? |
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anon32467
Post 5 |
Doesn't matter what you say or do. You could be completely making stuff up while you're sedated. When I was a young child, I was sedated and apparently yelled at the doctors, saying I would take their jobs away. I think it would be more akin to being drunk than being administered with a truth serum. |
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destiny82
Post 4 |
i am wondering what twilight is for the reason when i was 16 i gave birth to a baby boy. the dr who i had chose to give me twilight. he said no one could come back there with me because i might do and say things i normally wouldnt do. i remember nothing but looking down at my body. i was screaming with my back arched and i remember looking down my throat that's all i remember. the dr said that i got up and tried to skip around the room so they had to restrain me. i do not remember that or even giving birth to my son. i am curious what the effects to my child would be. he came into this world healthy, now is very small. does it stunt the child's growth? it was like i had, the best way i know to describe is, an out of body experience. someone please help answer the questions. i'm 27 now and still need to find out what really went on, thank u |
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jetintx
Post 3 |
The rules are the same. |
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anon25200
Post 2 |
Since twilight anesthesia has the ability to induce amnesia, I am concerned that the medical staff questioned me while under twilight anesthesia. My procedure was a workers compensation claim. What are the chances of the doctor interrogating the patient to discover any fraud and reporting it to the insurance provider?
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anon19288
Post 1 |
Are the rules for eating and drinking before surgery different with twilight anesthesia? |
