Conscious and Deep Sedation in Outpatient Dermatologic Surgery

In a letter to the editor, Dr. Clark C. Otley discussed the article on the use of conscious sedation for outpatient dermatologic surgical procedures, highlighting that the intravenous administration of propofol often leads to deep sedation rather than conscious sedation. Deep sedation is characterized by suppressed consciousness where patients are not easily arousable and may lose protective airway reflexes. Otley emphasized that due to propofol's immediate onset and the risk of oversedation, it is challenging to avoid deep sedation, especially for non-anesthesiologists. He suggested that the article's title should reflect the use of both conscious and deep sedation to ensure that readers are aware of the potential for deep sedation with propofol and take appropriate precautions.