Table 3.

Sedation-related complications categorised by severity

Sedation-related Complications
Severity	Description
Mild	♦Managed in clinic ♦Treatment completed ♦Patient discharged home For example: nausea, vomiting, faint, transient oxygen desaturation SaO2 ≤90% corrected with verbal stimulus/supplemental oxygen, paradoxical response, minor/transient changes to vital signs
Moderate	♦Managed in clinic ♦Treatment completed ♦Prolonged recovery/medical advice sought ♦Patient discharged home For example: allergic reaction without anaphylaxis, more pronounced change to vital signs, over-sedation requiring reversal
Severe	♦Treatment stopped ♦Medical intervention required ♦Patient admitted to hospital For example: respiratory depression with oxygen desaturation prolonged or SaO2 <75%, airway obstruction, aspiration, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, allergic reaction with anaphylaxis, loss of consciousness