Abstract :
Colonoscopy is typically performed with sedation. Intravenous benzodiazepines with or without opioids have long been
used to induce sedation for both colonoscopy and more complex
endoscopic procedures. In recent years, we have observed a rapid
transformation from the use of opioids and benzodiazepines to
sedation with propofol in Western countries.1
However, most
endoscopy centers in the Middle East still use traditional sedation with opioids and benzodiazepines for endoscopy.
The safety, feasibility and effectiveness of propofol sedation
for endoscopic procedures have been well studied in Western
countries.2-6
In this issue of “Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases”,
Ghadir MR and colleagues investigated the role of propofol to
induce deep sedation in an endoscopy center in Iran.7
In this uncontrolled study, the authors induced sedation with
propofol for colonoscopy in 125 patients. Of these, 5.6% developed hypoxemia during colonoscopy. All hypoxemia episodes
were successfully controlled by administration of nasal oxygen
without the need for mechanical ventilation.
