About “Twilight” Anesthesia

Conscious sedation, also known as “twilight” anesthesia is my preferred type of anesthesia for most procedures. It is a very comfortable and gentle type of anesthesia which is far less invasive than the typical general anesthesia but simultaneously highly effective. Typically patients sleep all the way through their procedure and have no recollection of it at all.

Initially you receive some Valium to take by mouth about a half-hour before the procedure to relax you. Shortly before moving to the operating room, an IV is placed and the remainder of the anesthetic is given through that. With conscious sedation there is no breathing tube or breathing machine, just a gentle flow of oxygen past your nose. In addition to the conscious sedation, a Novocain-like drug is placed into the operative area to ensure a completely painless procedure. Typical side effects of general anesthesia including a sore throat and nausea are avoided. Waking up takes only a few minutes at completion of the case and is usually free of any “grogginess.”