Deep sedation without intubation during second trimester surgical termination in an inpatient hospital setting

Safety of outpatient dilation and evacuations with intravenous (iv) sedation without intubation has been demonstrated, but there is a paucity of data on deep iv sedation on an inpatient second trimester surgical termination population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate complications of deep sedation with propofol without the use of intubation during second trimester surgical terminations in an inpatient teaching institution.

A retrospective chart review of all obstetrical and anesthetic data from inpatient dilation and evacuations between gestational ages 15 0/7 and 24 0/7 during the years 2002 to 2015. We examined 332 patient charts. Primary outcomes included suspected perioperative pulmonary aspiration and conversion to an intubated general anesthesia.

No perioperative pulmonary aspiration cases were either suspected or confirmed. There were a total of 14 (4.2%) patients that had intubation compared to 313 with natural airway (94.3%) or laryngeal mask (1.5%). Of the 14 intubated, 9 (64%) were started with intubation, and 5 (36%) were converted during the procedure (1.7% of those started with nonintubated anesthesia). Cases requiring intubation were associated with longer procedure times (p=<0.001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class (p=0.038), greater estimated blood loss (p=<0.001) and a primary indication of maternal health (p=<0.001) for the dilation and evacuation.

Deep sedation without intubation appears safe in a hospital setting with few complications reported.

Deep sedation without intubation for operating room dilation and evacuation is a safe option that rarely resulted in conversion to intubation and, in most cases, should be the anesthesia method of choice at initiation in an inpatient setting.