The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The role of patient-controlled apparatus for sedation in the emergency department.
Hand trauma is a fairly common cause of emergency unit admissions. Various analgesic and sedative agents are used to decrease pain and anxiety during minor surgical procedures for hand trauma patients and provide more comfortable conditions for the surgeon. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of patient-controlled sedation (PCS) during surgical procedures done under local anesthesia for hand trauma in the emergency department. ⋯ The two regimens did not differ with respect to hemodynamic changes, sedation levels and patient satisfaction. Therefore, PCS may be an acceptable alternative for surgical procedures performed using local anesthesia.