Colonoscopy Drugs and alternatives

Thanks for your accurate, concise reply, David Carpenter. There ARE risks with colonoscopies and every GI Doc I've worked with so far, has had at least one perforation in their career. To say you would only pick the Doc without a perforation means you're picking a Doc who's inexperienced.

As far as sedation with propofol, I LOVE IT!!! We used Versed and Demerol then Versed and Fentanyl for years and had many patients that were either uncomfortable or downright painful. Now that we use CRNA's to give Propofol our patient's are not only comfortable but ecstatic that it was so easy. They wake up quickly, aren't sedated or nauseated for hours, and feel like they've had a power nap. We don't give any other drug besides the Propofol unless there are extenuating circumstances. We don't have to use Hurrican Spray to numb the throat before an EGD because the Propofol is so effective. Our patients are able to be discharged within thirty minutes and they usually go out to breakfast on their way home. We all win because of quick turnover.

Propofol is so much safer than Versed for this procedure because it's so much more effective for sedation. With Versed, there were patients that required high doses to keep them comfortable and we got to the limit of what we could give. They were asking for more pain control but we knew that as soon as we stopped the stimulation of the scope, they'd become so sedated their respirations would be at risk. And it brought our unit to a screeching halt to pull a nurse to do a 'one on one' with an overly sedated patient. Propofol is our answer and I hope it's only a matter of time before all units switch over.

I live in the Midwest and our patients insurance fees are being covered for both the Colonoscopy fees from the Doctor and the Anesthesia fees from the Anesthesia group. As far as it being a good use of our health care dollars, I truly believe it is because it's a much more tolerable procedure with Propofol and more importantly, it's much safer. I personally used Versed and Fentynal for my own colonoscopy, before we had made the switch to Propofol and the procedure was a piece of cake. But I felt miserable afterwards...nauseated and sedated for hours. I would rather pay a higher copay and know that I was getting Propofol....a safer alternative and a more tolerable one.

At least Propofol doesn't cause people to have permanent memory loss, severe anxiety attacks and Post Trumatic Stress Disorder like Versed does!!! Check out VersedBusters blogspot and www.askapatient.com if you want to hear the horrible things people have experienced while being lied to and overdosed with this evil poison!!!!

For hospital endoscopy insurance will pay for anesthesia. For AEC where colonoscopies are done they don't pay (except the NE). There is an interesting model that they use in California. If you want propofol they give you a card to an anesthesia group. Cost is around $400 cash only (I'm assuming they take credit cards). At the assigned time they show up and push the white stuff. Basically if you want it you have to pay for it.

David Carpenter, PA-C

At least Propofol doesn't cause people to have permanent memory loss, severe anxiety attacks and Post Trumatic Stress Disorder like Versed does!!! Check out VersedBusters blogspot and www.askapatient.com if you want to hear the horrible things people have experienced while being lied to and overdosed with this evil poison!!!!

For hospital endoscopy insurance will pay for anesthesia. For AEC where colonoscopies are done they don't pay (except the NE). There is an interesting model that they use in California. If you want propofol they give you a card to an anesthesia group. Cost is around $400 cash only (I'm assuming they take credit cards). At the assigned time they show up and push the white stuff. Basically if you want it you have to pay for it.

David Carpenter, PA-C