MONITORED ANESTHESIA CARE (MAC) OVERVIEW

• Medicines are given through your IV (intravenous) line to keep you relaxed, sleepy, and comfortable. This is also known as “twilight anesthesia”

• Often used for surgery that is short or not too invasive (outpatient surgery)

• Different levels of sedation are possible, depending on the type of procedure and patient’s preference

• Most people do not remember events during the procedure

• A local anesthetic (numbing medicine) is often injected into the skin around the surgical site to numb the area in addition to your IV sedation

• A CRNA will be with you and closely monitor your vital signs, such as heartrate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, throughout the procedure

EXAMPLES OF PROCEDURES THAT USE MAC

• Dental procedures

• Procedures that look inside the body

  • Bronchoscopy (airways & lungs)

  • Colonoscopy (the colon)

  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD - the throat, esophagus, stomach, and first part of small intestine)

• Eye surgery

• Ear surgery

• Pain management procedures

• Orthopedic procedures (MAC is often given along with Regional Anesthesia)