Introduction
Twilight anaesthesia is a form of procedural sedation, which involves administering sedatives, analgesics and local anaesthetics to help patients remain relaxed and pain-free during surgical procedures, without the need for instrumentation of the airway or positive pressure ventilation. Its importance in day surgery lies in providing good surgical operating conditions, and enabling quicker recovery from anaesthesia, with minimal post-anaesthesia side effects.
Methods
A questionnaire was designed to assess the patient experience of twilight anaesthesia in a single-centre practice in the UK. The survey was administered to patients who underwent twilight anaesthesia for day-case plastic surgery procedures during the study period. Responses were collected and analysed to identify key factors influencing patient satisfaction and outcomes associated with twilight anaesthesia.
Results
Of the 35 responses collected so far, 100% of patients indicated they would be willing to undergo another procedure under twilight anaesthesia. The postoperative nausea rate was 6%, while the post-operative vomiting rate was 0%. Furthermore, 100% of patients either had no memories of the procedure or reported pleasant memories of the experience.
Conclusions
In conclusion, twilight anaesthesia proves to be an effective and well-tolerated option for day-case procedures, offering minimal postoperative discomfort and positive patient experiences. The questionnaire results indicate high satisfaction, with all respondents willing to undergo another procedure under twilight anaesthesia, and no reports of vomiting or significant postoperative nausea. These findings suggest that twilight anaesthesia is a valuable approach for day surgery, contributing to a smoother recovery and enhancing patient comfort.
Authors
Louisa Woolley
University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Andrew Downs
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, United Kingdom
Andrej Salibi
KAT&CO, Birmingham, United Kingdom