Who is an anesthesiologist?
What does the anesthesiologist do?
When will I meet my anesthesiologist?
What are the types of anesthesia?
What type of anesthesia will I have?
Am I at greater risk because of my age?
Will I receive a separate bill from the
anesthesiologist?
This informational brochure is designed to help you prepare
for surgery by explaining what modern anesthesia is and
what to expect. You can help to ensure a safe and comfortable
anesthetic experience by becoming a well-informed and confident
patient.
As you grow older, you are more likely to develop medical
problems that require surgical treatment. It is the responsibility
of your anesthesiologist to help prepare you for surgery
and to take care of you during your operation and in the
recovery room.
Who is an anesthesiologist?
Your anesthesiologist is a physician who has completed four
years of medical school after graduating from college. Following
medical school, today's anesthesiologist completes four
to five years of specialized medical training in the field
of anesthesiology, which includes pain management and intensive
care medicine.
What does the anesthesiologist do?
Your anesthesiologist is responsible for managing vital
life functions, including breathing, heart rhythm and blood
pressure while administering anesthesia. Throughout surgery,
your anesthesiologist makes medical judgments and is responsible
for the management of your physical condition. The anesthesiologist
may be assisted by other medical personnel. Should you develop
any medical problems during surgery, your anesthesiologist
will immediately diagnose and treat them. In addition, should
your condition require special care in the recovery room,
it is most likely that the physician who treats you will
be your anesthesiologist.
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When will I meet my anesthesiologist?
Before your surgery, an anesthesiologist will speak with
you to evaluate your medical condition, review your chart
and plan your particular anesthetic, taking into consideration
any physical problems you may have such as asthma, diabetes
or unusual heart and circulation conditions. Many times,
additional information is required to assess your medical
condition. For this reason, blood tests, an electrocardiogram
or X-rays may be done either before the day of surgery or
on the same day as your operation.
Any current and recent prescription or over-the-counter
medications should be discussed during your preanesthesia
interview. This interview also provides you an opportunity
to ask questions and become better informed about your anesthetic
care, available options, and their risks and benefits.
Special Instructions
Before the day of your operation, you will be given instructions
about eating and drinking for a specified number of hours
before your surgery. It may be extremely important for you
to continue some of your medications such as those for heart,
blood pressure and breathing problems. Other medications
may need the dose adjusted or may be temporarily stopped
to prevent unwanted reactions. Discuss the preoperative
use of your current medications with your anesthesiologist
or the person designated by the anesthesiologist to call
or interview you before the day of surgery. It is important
to follow all of these instructions carefully. They are
designed to ensure a safe anesthetic.
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What are the types of anesthesia?
There are three main types of anesthesia: general, regional
and local.
General anesthesia temporarily makes a person unconscious
so that the entire body feels no pain. It is a carefully
balanced combination of both inhaled and intravenously injected
drugs.
Regional anesthesia, which includes spinal anesthesia,
epidural anesthesia and axillary blocks, eliminates pain
following an injection of local anesthetic medication near
large groups of nerves to temporarily block pain signals
from reaching the brain. Regional anesthesia can be used
for surgery on selected regions of the body, either alone
or in combination with general anesthesia. If you need hip
or prostate surgery, your anesthesiologist might determine
that, in your particular case, epidural or spinal anesthesia
may be preferable.
Local anesthesia may be used to numb only a small
area of nerves at the site where the surgeon plans to operate,
such as for cataract surgery. During local and regional
anesthesia, patients often receive intravenous drugs for
sedation so that they can be comfortably drowsy during surgery
and remember little of their time in the operating room.
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What type of anesthesia will I have?
Your anesthesiologist will discuss an anesthetic plan that
is best for you. Before determining the most appropriate
anesthetic plan in your particular situation, your medical
evaluation must be complete. Many factors are taken into
consideration, including the type and duration of your scheduled
surgery and your preferences.
Am I at greater risk because of my
age?
All anesthetic techniques have some risks associated with
them. More important than your age are such factors as your
medical condition and your type of surgery. Various safety
measures and precautions are taken in the delivery of your
anesthesia care to help prevent unwanted events, just as
you take certain safety precautions when driving a car or
crossing the street. As a result, anesthesia today is safer
than ever before for all age groups and for ambulatory outpatients
as well as hospitalized patients. If you are an outpatient,
it is essential that you arrange for a reliable adult to
take you home because your coordination, decision-making
ability and driving abilities may be somewhat impaired for
up to 48 hours.
It is important for you to realize that you will be dependent
on others for a period of time, but your independence will
return.
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Will I receive a separate bill from
the anesthesiologist?
You may receive a separate statement from your anesthesiologist
just as you will from your other physicians. If your financial
situation is a concern, your anesthesiologist or appropriate
office staff will welcome a confidential talk with you about
the bill and your ability to pay.
Please feel free to direct any questions or express any
of your concerns to your anesthesiologist. This physician
wants to make your surgical and anesthetic experience as
safe and pleasant as possible.
Copyright © 1993 by the American Society
of Anesthesiologists
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