[Monitoring Required for Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) and Specific MAC Methodologies]

Many physicians responsible for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) are not anesthesiologists and are not acquainted with treatment in response to sudden changes in patient condition. In particular, rapid response and early detection are essential for respiratory depression. Physicians engaged in MAC require pharmacological knowledge regarding sedative and analgesic medications, need to be able to accurately evaluate physiological responses to sedative and anesthetic levels, and need to be acquainted with emergency procedures such as basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS). Patient management focusing on both ventilation and oxygenation, through the use of capnography and continuous respiratory monitoring, in addition to oxygenation monitoring using a pulse oximeter, and measuring ECGs and blood pressure in the management of sedated patients, is also important.