The Use of Conscious Sedation for Outpatient Dermatologic Surgical Procedures

Background. Dermatologic surgery has undergone increasing levels of sophistication over the past few decades. Commensurate with this demand, an established anesthesia technique called conscious sedation has been employed. Objectives. Methods for performing office‐based conscious sedation are described. Recommendations are made regarding prerequisites for conscious sedation in an office setting, patient selection, complications management, and postoperative discharge requirements. Conclusion. The goals of anesthesia are to provide for patient safety and comfort, to increase patient acceptance of the procedure, and to enhance the surgeon's efficiency and satisfaction.