An endoscopy is a common medical procedure used to view the gastrointestinal tract. Sedation ensures patient comfort, but many people wonder how long they will be “asleep.” The duration of sedation is closely tied to the specific procedure and the medications administered. While the overall clinic visit may take a few hours, the actual time a patient is under deep sleep is brief.
Defining the Sedation Used
Sedation for an endoscopy falls into two main categories: moderate sedation and deep sedation. Moderate sedation, also known as conscious sedation, is a drug-induced state where the patient is relaxed and drowsy but remains conscious and can respond to stimulation. This level is achieved using a combination of a benzodiazepine, like midazolam, and an opioid, such as fentanyl, to reduce anxiety and relieve discomfort.
Deep sedation is a state where the patient cannot be easily aroused and may require assistance to maintain an open airway. This level is often achieved using Propofol, which has a rapid onset and short duration. Because Propofol leads to a deeper level of unconsciousness, it is administered and monitored by an anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). The choice between moderate and deep sedation depends on the patient’s overall health, the procedure’s complexity, and its expected duration.
Actual Time Spent Sedated
The time a patient is truly sedated corresponds directly to the time the endoscope is actively inside the body, which is much shorter than the overall appointment time. For a diagnostic Upper Endoscopy, or Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the procedure generally lasts between 5 to 20 minutes. During this brief window, the sedative keeps the patient comfortable and still while the physician examines the upper digestive tract.
A Colonoscopy, which examines the large intestine, typically takes longer, ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. This longer duration is due to the length of the colon and the time required to maneuver the scope through its bends. If a patient undergoes both procedures consecutively, known as a combined procedure, the total time spent sedated is between 60 and 90 minutes.
Factors Influencing Sedation Duration
The duration of sedation is not fixed and can be extended by several variables encountered during the examination. Therapeutic interventions add minutes to the time the patient must remain sedated. For instance, the removal of a polyp (polypectomy) requires additional time to safely resect the tissue and control bleeding.
Other complex actions also prolong the procedural time:
- Taking multiple biopsies.
- Stretching a narrowed area (dilation).
- Placing a stent.
The patient’s individual anatomy, such as unusual loops in the colon or a history of prior surgery, can also make scope insertion more technically demanding and lengthen the overall sedation time. The medical team adjusts the sedative dosage to maintain the necessary level of sleep until the physician completes the required actions.
Post-Procedure Sedation Recovery
Even after the endoscope is removed, the patient remains under the influence of the sedative. Once the procedure is complete, the patient is moved immediately to a recovery area for monitoring by nursing staff. The immediate recovery phase, where the patient transitions to a stable, awake state, typically lasts between 30 minutes to an hour.
During this time, staff monitors vital signs like heart rate and oxygen saturation to ensure the patient is safely waking up and the sedative effects are wearing off. Patients are cleared for discharge once they are alert, able to walk, and their vitals are stable. Because the sedative can impair judgment, memory, and reaction time for up to 24 hours, a responsible adult must escort the patient home.