The deepest form of sedation is general anesthesia.
General anesthesia sedates a person so that they have a complete loss of consciousness and is commonly used in surgery.
General anesthesia is a drug induced state of unconsciousness in which people are not arousable, even from painful stimulation.
The person sedated under general anesthesia remains unconscious until the general anesthesia wears off and the person then wakes up.
Deep sedation can be very effective in certain procedures although it is not the same as general anesthesia.
Deep sedation involves a drug induced depression of consciousness, in which patients cannot be easily aroused but will respond purposely to any repeated or painful stimulation.
Moderate sedation involves a depressed level of consciousness in which patients can respond to verbal requests or react to touch, but breathing also remains intact and no support is required.
And minimal sedation also known as Anxiolysis is when the patient remains awake but relaxed and able to interact.
Dissociative sedation is another form of sedation and is a trance like state where the patient remains awake but also unaware of the pain and also retains no memory of the event happening.