Physicians order the lowest amount necessary to achieve the desired effect. Patients are continuously assessed for adequate pain control or level of sedation. The sedation and pain medications may make patients less responsive, and at times, they may be totally unresponsive. Although this may be disconcerting to families, it is important to have patients adequately sedated for necessary care to be administered. As patients recover and the medications are decreased, the ability to respond appropriately will return.
Local anesthesia causes a loss of sensation in the anesthetized area.
A local anesthesia is often used in conjunction with a sedative during certain procedures such as insertion of a central line. Occasionally, soft restraints are used in order to prevent patients from inadvertently pulling out their tubes or catheters. The nursing staff constantly monitors restraints. Find a pulmonologist near you. Join a live chat or threaded forum.