J U L Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 1 5
CONSCIOUS SEDATION
Give Patients a Mint With Their MKO Melt
F
or cataract
patients who
have an aver-
sion to IV needles or
who have chronic opi-
oid issues, an MKO
melt is a wonderful
alternative. The sub-
lingual sedation,
which consists of
midazolam (3 mg),
ketamine HCI (25 mg)
and ondansetron (2
mg), is placed under
the patient's tongue
just before surgery and takes effect within minutes. But some patients
can't stand the taste of these tablets. Here's a simple solution: After
the tablet dissolves under the patient's tongue, give them a mint or a
Life Saver so they won't leave with a bad taste in their mouth.
T. Hunter Newsom, MD
Newsom Eye & Laser Center
Tampa, Fla.
hunter@newsomeye.net
MINT CONDITION After the patient's tablet dissolves under their tongue, offer them
a mint to mitigate any unpleasant reaction to the taste of the conscious sedation.
