Monitored patient-controlled sedation: practical technique or academic research tool?

Monitored patient-controlled sedation (MPCS) is a technique that allows patients to administer intravenous sedatives, under the supervision of an anaesthetist, to achieve a level of conscious sedation that meets their individual requirements. Experience to date has shown that this technique is effective and highly acceptable to patients. Propofol is an appropriate choice of agent for MPCS. Criteria for such agents include short arm-brain circulation time, which results in a rapid and clearly defined onset of action. The MPCS technique offers a number of benefits to the patient and the theatre staff.