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Adjunct agent:  Drug that acts synergistically with other sedative/analgesic drug combinations to help achieve sedation in patients who are resistant to these agents.  Adjunct agents may also allow for the use of lower doses of standard medications.

Airway management: Process of ensuring that there is an open pathway to the lungs and that the lungs are safe from aspiration. See Patient Care & Safety: Airway Management

Analgesic:  Substance that produces loss of pain sensations without loss of consciousness.

Anesthesia:  Loss of sensation and usually of consciousness without loss of vital functions which is artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents that block the passage of pain impulses to the brain.

Anesthetic:  Substance that produces anesthesia.

Antagonist:  In pharmacology, a drug that has an affinity for and binds to the same receptor sites as another drug and thereby inhibits the function of the active drug (agonist).  See also Reversal agents.

Apnea:  Cessation of respiration.

Anxiolysis:  See minimal sedation.

Benzodiazepines:  Class of depressants used to produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and to prevent seizures. In general, benzodiazepines act as hypnotics in high doses, anxiolytics in moderate doses, and sedatives in low doses. See Medications

Bolus:  Administration of a single, large dose of a drug.

Conscious sedation:  See moderate sedation/analgesia.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Pattern of abnormal respiration characterized by alternating periods apnea and deep, rapid breathing.

Difficult airway:  Condition due to a patient's anatomy or disease process that makes intubation difficult using standard technique.

Deep sedation/analgesia:   Drug-induced depression of consciousness during which the patient cannot be easily aroused, but responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation.  Independent ventilatory function may be impaired. The patient may require assistance to maintain a patent airway.  Spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate.  Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.

Endotracheal tube:  Rubber or plastic tube inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea to deliver oxygen under pressure when ventilation must be totally controlled.

Extrapyramidal reaction:  Symptoms such as tremor, slurred speech, restlessness, muscle spasms, anxiety, and paranoia that can be seen as side effects of some medications.

General anesthesia: Drug-induced loss of consciousness during which the patient is not arousable, even to painful stimuli.  The ability to maintain independent ventilatory function is often impaired.  Assistance is often required in maintaining a patent airway.  Positive pressure ventilation may be required due to depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function.  Cardiovascular function may be impaired.

Hemodynamics: Pertaining to the flow of blood through the body including cardiac function and peripheral vascular circulation.

Hypercarbia:  Abnormally high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Hypnotic:  Drug that induces sleep.

Hypopnea: Shallow or slow respiration.

Hypoxia:  Condition in which inadequate oxygen is available to the tissues.

Hypoxemia: Deficiency of oxygen in the arterial blood.

Hypoventilation:  Also known as respiratory depression.  Abnormal condition that occurs when breathing is inadequate to perform needed gas exchange.  Hypoventilation can result in hypoxia and hypercapnia.

Intravenous:  Pertaining to the inside of a vein such as the administration of a medication directly into the blood via a vein.

Intubation: Introduction of a tube into the trachea to maintain open airway or to restore its patency if trachea is obstructed.

Laryngoscope:  Device used to facilitate intubation which allows the glottis and vocal cords to be viewed through the mouth.

Local anesthesia:  Loss of pain sensation in a specific part of the body without loss of consciousness.

Minimal sedation: Also known as anxiolysis.  A drug-induced state during which the patient responds normally to verbal commands.  Cognitive function and coordination may be impaired.  Ventilatory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected.

Moderate sedation/analgesia:  Also known as conscious sedation.  A drug-induced depression of consciousness during which the patient responds purposefully to verbal command, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation.  No interventions are necessary to maintain a patent airway.  Spontaneous ventilation is adequate.  Cardiovascular function is usually maintained.

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC):  A specific anesthesia service for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. During monitored anesthesia care, the anesthesiologist provides or medically directs a number of specific services, including diagnosis and treatment of clinical problems that occur during the procedure; support of vital functions; administration of sedatives medications; and other medical services as necessary.

MAO inhibitors: Also called MAOIs. Abbreviation for monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a class of antidepressant drugs prescribed for the treatment of depression.

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