Chapter 22 - Sedation for assisted reproductive technologies

Summary

This chapter describes sedation for oocyte retrieval and related assisted reproductive technologies (ART) procedures. The procedure that most commonly requires sedation during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is oocyte retrieval. Occasionally, an embryo transfer procedure is scheduled with sedation. The dilatation and curettage procedure is infrequently encountered. On very rare occasions the urologist incorporates microscopic epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedures in the ART sedation schedule. The selection for sedation and analgesia depends on the ART center and the physician's preference. Patient preference has a limited impact, since most ART centers usually have set sedation protocols. The patient care transfer begins with proper patient identification, followed by a description of the procedure, the sedation agents used, drug allergies, antiemetics, antibiotics, and fluids that were administered. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) considerations should start during the pre-procedure period, recognizing that the ART population is at risk.