Procedural Sedation

All conscious sedation is performed with a minimum of two attending physicians present. One is responsible for the airway and sedation; the other performs the procedure.
The anesthetist is on call 24/7 for procedural sedation and is the preferred physician for airway and medication management. This is especially important in children and the elderly. If there are two physicians available and one is experienced and competent with airway management, intubation, and procedural sedation medications, then it is left to the discretion of the two physicians present whether to call anesthesia for assistance. If there are any concerns, the physicians should err on the side of caution and involve anesthesia.