A form of sedated state where consciousness is influenced to some extent, pharyngeal reflex is retained, the patient can understand and follow spoken commands.

The aims of sedation are:

• to help patients tolerate certain unpleasant treatments,
• to reduce anxiety and its potentially dangerous symptoms,
• to prevent pain and bad experiences,
• to enable undisturbed medical procedures.

During intravenous (IV) sedation the medication (midazolam) is introduced into the bloodstream through an intravenous cannula. A thin cannula is placed into the vein on the arm or the back of the hand. The cannula is removed after the treatment, before releasing the patient. The biggest advantage of intravenous sedation is that it causes significant amnesia, so the patient will remember nothing or just a little of the treatment. After IV sedation the medication does not immediately drain from the body, so after the treatment the patient is monitored for at least 30 minutes, and then may go home accompanied by a responsible adult. For the rest of the day the patient must not do any potentially dangerous activities (e.g. driving) and must not drink alcohol.

During sedation the heart frequency and oxygen level are monitored by a so-called pulsoxymeter. Blood pressure is measured before and after the treatment.