Conscious and Deep Sedation
Deep sedation is a step beyond conscious sedation and just before general anesthesia. Generally, only anesthesia providers or specially trained physicians can provide deep sedation because airway and hemodynamic management might be required. The major limitation to deep sedation is the need for the patient to lie on the procedure table with minimal movement during the entire procedure. RF lesions can be associated with intense pain, resulting in patient movement. The location of sites eliciting pain with RF lesions are not predictable, although are most often located on the posterior wall. Monitoring esophageal temperature during deep sedation is possible, but more cumbersome, due to intact airway reflexes that are abolished during general anesthesia. Patient movement with right phrenic stimulation during CB procedures is also a common occurrence with deep sedation, and is largely absent with the use of general anesthesia.