What’s in a Name? From MAC to MAC

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is clearly defined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) House of Delegates.¹ This definition is often poorly understood by surgeons, patients and, at times, anesthesia providers. This lack of clarity is what brought about the need for the ASA statement distinguishing between MAC, various forms of sedation it might encompass and the expertise needed to administer it.

In modern-day clinical anesthesia practice, one