Advanced IV Sedation Abortion Clinic: No Escort or Driver Required

Advanced IV Sedation consists of a sleep inducing injection which produces a safe, 3 minute, painless procedure provided in an atmosphere of warmth and compassion. Before the physician leaves the room, the patient is nearly fully awake and talking. Generally within 45 minutes, patients are discharged from recovery and able to drive themselves home without any residual effects from the advanced technology pain medications. The new high technology sedation medications allow patients to continue to eat and drink up to just a few hours prior to their surgery and they are able to drive themselves to and from their office visit. With the old sedative medications, patients are not allowed to drive for more than 24 to 36 hours as the medications can remain in the blood stream that long and cause side effects for that length of time. The new Advanced IV medications rapidly reduce anxiety and its analgesic effects occur within 45 to 90 seconds. The medications remain effective for less than 15 to 30 minutes without the residual side effects of drowsiness, weakness, lightheadedness or dizziness. This allows patients to go back to work, school and proceed with most of their normal activities after the abortion procedure is performed. Patients are not dependent on anyone else to get them to or from the abortion clinic facility. The advantages of this are several: 1) patients are able to maintain the upmost in their privacy and confidentiality, 2) they undergo the surgical aspiration procedure pain free, 3) being able to eat and drink up to the time the surgical procedure takes place helps to reduce stress, anxiety, dehydration and reduce chance of complications with patients who are prone to hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia (low or high blood sugar) episodes.

ADVANCED IV SEDATION TECHNIQUE

Prior to patients receiving Advanced IV Sedation Technology, their history is reviewed and a physical exam is performed to assure that they are a candidate to receive the medications. The patient is counseled on the benefits and risks of the abortion procedure and assures she is not being forced to undergo the abortion procedure. Vital signs, blood work, urine and a sonogram are performed preoperatively. The sonogram is performed to determine the approximate number weeks the pregnancy is. The patient is taken to the procedure room where she is placed in the lithotomy position (position as having a PAP smear). The Advanced IV sedation medications are given and within 45 to 90 seconds, the patient is relaxed and ready for the surgical abortion procedure to start. Our advanced technology medications work similarly to less modern narcotics, but with fewer risks and unpleasant side effects. A speculum is placed in position to visualize the cervix. The cervix is anesthetized with Lidocaine followed by placing serial dilators into the cervix which opens the cervical os (opening leading to inside the uterus). This is followed by a plastic sterile curette inserted inside the uterus followed by attaching it to tubing with removal of the pregnancy tissue. It normally takes 2 to 3 minutes to perform the abortion procedure and there is minimal pain or discomfort. In summary; the advantages of Advanced IV Sedation are the following.

RAPID RECOVERY TIME

Within 3 to 10 minutes after administration there is no longer a residual effect from this advanced sedation because it does not linger in the body.

PATIENT TRANSPORTATION

With this advanced sedation technique, there is no need for a partner or escort to accompany patients to the office for IV sedation unless they choose to do so.

COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY

There are times when patients do not want to discuss having an abortion with anyone. Most abortion providers that offer IV sedation do not use this new Advanced Sedation Technique which allows the patients to drive themselves. The residual effects of the old medications used can last 4 to 36 hours or more. This is not the case with the Rapid Acting Advanced High Technology IV Medications.

COST

There is generally a nominal fee patients are charged for use of Advanced IV sedation. As noted; there are significant advantages described that make patients who choose the newer medications, will not be disappointed. You may call your nearest abortion facility and inquire whether or not they offer this service.