Procedural Sedation Practice Exam

Which symptom is least likely to indicate inadequate analgesia during sedation?

Tachycardia Hypertension Diaphoresis Hypotension

Correct Answer:

Hypotension

Explanation:

During sedation, the body's normal response to pain is driven by the sympathetic nervous system. If analgesia is not enough, nociceptive input triggers a catecholamine surge, leading to an increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, and sweating. These signs—tachycardia, hypertension, and diaphoresis—reflect the patient experiencing pain and needing more analgesia. Hypotension, on the other hand, is not a typical marker of inadequate analgesia; it usually points to excessive sedation or vasodilation from the sedatives, or to volume status issues. So the symptom least likely to indicate inadequate analgesia is low blood pressure.

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