Development of a sedation policy for upper GI endoscopy based on an audit of patients' perception of the procedure

To assess patients' perception of upper GI endoscopy, both with and without sedation, and based on this information to propose a sedation policy for the procedure.

A prospective audit of the experience of patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy both with and without sedation.

Of the 500 patients in the study, 237 had endoscopy with sedation and 263 with local anaesthetic throat spray. Sedated patients found the procedure more tolerable, but most unsedated patients felt the extra discomfort was more than compensated for by other advantages. 87% of those patients sedated and 70% of those not sedated would choose to have the procedure repeated in the same way.

Upper GI endoscopy using local anaesthetic throat spray alone is well tolerated by patients. We have developed a policy on sedation which we believe could result in many more patients electively choosing to have the procedure without sedation, resulting in potential savings on cost and manpower.