twilight sleep

twi·light sleep (twlt)

n.

An amnesic condition characterized by insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness, induced by an injection of morphine and scopolamine, formerly used to relieve the pain of childbirth.

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twilight sleep,

n a light general anesthesia obtained by the parenteral administration of a mixture of morphine and scopolamine to reduce pain and obtund recall in childbirth.

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twilight sleep Anesthesiology A dream-like state of 'conscious sedation' induced by Versed, an agent used for minimally invasive surgery–eg, colonoscopy or minor oral procedures, without general anesthesia; Versed is associated with sudden deaths, possibly related to 'overshooting' therapeutic levels. See Versed. Cf Dauerschlaff, Continuous sleep therapy.