Surgery Monitored Anesthesia Care or Twilight Sleep Explained By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN LinkedIn Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 17, 2022 Medically reviewed by Lissette Pichardo, MD Medically reviewed by Lissette Pichardo, MD LinkedIn Lissette Pichardo, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist. She administers anesthesia for patients at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC), also known as conscious sedation or twilight sleep, is a type of sedation that is administered through an IV to make a patient sleepy and calm during a procedure. The patient is typically awake, but groggy, and are able to follow instructions as needed. This type of sedation is used for outpatient procedures, such as a colonoscopy, where the patient is expected to go home after the anesthesia has completely worn off. Westend61 / Getty Images How Twilight Sleep Feels The level of sedation provided with this type of anesthesia can range from light, where the patient just feels very relaxed, to heavier sedation where the patient is unaware of what is happening and only rouses to significant stimulation. The patient may feel silly and a little sleepy, or under heavier doses may be mostly asleep. In general, with lighter sedation, the patient is able to speak, hear things around them, and answer questions and follow commands. They are aware of the procedure, but not in pain and typically don't feel anxious about what is happening. With heavier sedation, the patient is breathing on their own but unaware of their surroundings and typically isn't "awake." While the patient may be heavily sedated, this type of anesthesia is different from general anesthesia because the patient is not chemically paralyzed, nor do they require assistance with breathing. The vital signs are closely monitored to make sure they are stable throughout the procedure. One medication commonly used for this type of sedation is Propofol, also known as Diprivan, which is given through an IV and looks remarkably similar to milk. This medication is given through an IV and wears off quickly (less than ten minutes for most people) so the patient is able to wake shortly after the procedure is completed. Depending on the medications used and the doses that are given, the patient may or may not remember the procedure. Monitoring Because the level of sedation varies, the process is monitored, with an anesthesia professional present at all times to continuously monitor the patient's vital signs and maintain or adjust the level of sedation as needed. This usually means a blood pressure cuff and a monitor for oxygen levels are used, at the minimum. Typically, electrodes are placed on the chest to monitor the patient's heart rate and EKG throughout the procedure. When It's Used This type of sedation is frequently used with minor surgical procedures and dental procedures and can be combined with local or regional anesthesia to decrease pain. Procedures that look inside the body, such as bronchoscopy (the airways and lungs), colonoscopy (the colon), and esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD/Upper GI (the throat, esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine), frequently use this type of anesthesia. Side Effects Patients having conscious sedation often have fewer side effects than those who have complete general anesthesia. The most common side effect is nausea, but some patients do experience both nausea and vomiting. If you have experienced nausea or vomiting after anesthesia in the past, be sure to tell your anesthesia provider so medication can be given to help prevent it from happening again. Frequently Asked Questions Is conscious sedation safer than general anesthesia? Yes, monitored anesthesia care, also known as conscious sedation or twilight sleep, is safer than general anesthesia. It has fewer risks and a faster recovery time. What drug is used for twilight sedation? Diprivan (propofol) is a short-acting sedative commonly used for monitored anesthesia care or conscious sedation. It is delivered through an IV and the patient is monitored closely throughout the procedure. Can you talk during conscious sedation? Possibly, it depends on the level of sedation. For some procedures, you may be given just enough medication to be groggy but still able to move and follow directions. You may still be able to speak, although your speech may be slurred.Other procedures may require you to be completed sedated and you will not be able to move or speak. You may be able to hear or you may drift off to sleep. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Das S, Ghosh S. Monitored anesthesia care: An overview. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2015;31(1):27-9. doi:10.4103/0970-9185.150525 Sohn HM, Ryu JH. Monitored anesthesia care in and outside the operating room. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2016;69(4):319-26. doi:10.4097/kjae.2016.69.4.319 Lundström S, Twycross R, Mihalyo M, Wilcock A. Propofol. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010;40(3):466-70. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.07.001 Maurer WG, Walsh M, Viazis N. Basic requirements for monitoring sedated patients: blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and EKG. Digestion. 2010;82(2):87-9. doi:10.1159/000285505 MedlinePlus. Conscious sedation for surgical procedures. By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit