Table 1.
Comparison of sedated and unsedated colonoscopy
| Attributes of Scheduled Options | Sedated | Unsedated |
| Availability | Usual in US | Not usual in US |
| Risks: hypotension, hypoxia, etc. | Very small | None |
| Success rate | ∼ 90% | 80 to 90% |
| Purge preparation | Yes | Yes |
| Escort | Mandatory | Not required |
| Drive a car after colonoscopy | No | Yes |
| Discomfort reduced by medication | Highly likely | No |
| Remember discomfort | No | Yes |
| Remember discussion | No | Yes |
| Need monitoring after colonoscopy | Yes | No |
| Activity restriction after colonoscopy | Yes | No |
| May require repeat with sedation | NA | Incomplete |
Adapted from reference 43: Leung FW. Promoting informed choice of unsedated colonoscopy - patient-centered care for a subgroup of U.S. veterans. Dig Dis Sci 2008;53(11):2955–9.