Sedation - Patient Screening

Patient Screening

Prior to any oral sedation methods being used on a patient, screening must be done to identify possible health concerns. Before using sedation, doctors try to identify any of the following that may apply:

1. known drug allergies, and sensitivities,
2. hypertension
3. heart defects
4. kidney
5. other allergens, such as latex allergy
6. history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), (certain oral sedation methods may trigger a TIA)
7. neuromuscular disorders, (such as muscular dystrophy)
8. a current list of medications and herbal supplements taken by the patient

A patient with any of these conditions must be evaluated for special procedures to minimize the risk of patient injury due to the sedation method.

In addition to the above mentioned precautions, patients should be interviewed to determine if they have any other condition that may lead to complications while undergoing treatment. Any head, neck, or spinal cord injuries should be noted as well as any diagnosis of osteoporosis.