Steven J. Zamborsky
Adverse Events of Emergency Department
Procedural Sedation
SchoolNorth Royalton High School • North Royalton, Ohio
ProgramScience Internship
MentorSharon E. Mace, MD, FACEP, FAAP
DepartmentEmergency Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- Research
- Adverse Events of Emergency Department Procedural Sedation
- Hypothesis
- The hypothesis of this study was that procedural sedation in the emergency department is safe when patients are undergoing procedures such as fracture and dislocation reductions or other potentially uncomfortable procedures.
- Methodology
- Patients requiring procedural sedation in the years 2000-2008 were identified. Patients' medical records were abstracted for: age, gender, race, procedure, comorbidity, NPO Status, vital signs, insurance, and other pertinent information.
- Outcomes
- Of the 1,857 patients undergoing procedural sedation, 18.4% experienced side effects and/or complications. In the majority of patients visiting the emergency room, procedural sedation proved to be safe and effective. Additionally, patients at the lowest risk for experiencing side effects or complications are healthy children without any previous medical problems who are presenting with a laceration. Patients at the highest risk for experiencing side effects or complications are elderly people who have multiple medical problems and are presenting with GI bleeds or esophageal foreign bodies.
