Pre-Operative
Prior to your surgery, we will ask you for a brief medical history and a relevant physical exam to evaluate your overall health condition. We will ask important questions about your health, family history and experiences with previous surgery, and we will discuss plans for your anesthetic. It is very important that you bring a list of all medications that you are taking.
Other important information that you could provide us would include your personal habits such as drinking, smoking, and the use of any drugs, including all non-prescribed drugs and nutritional supplements, because these may affect your response to anesthesia. This visit will provide you with a good opportunity to ask any questions you may have and express any concerns you have about the upcoming surgery and anesthetic. Your anesthesia will be tailored specifically for you, and the type of anesthesia you receive depends on your general health, the specific surgical procedure and, when possible, we will certainly take into account your preferences. We will discuss the options with you at this time.
Types of Anesthesia
In anesthesia, various drugs are used to obtain freedom from pain. Your anesthesiologist's selection of anesthetic agents for you is based on the type of surgery you are having, your particular medical condition, and your personal preferences.
Typical anesthetic choices include:
1) General anesthesia: During general anesthesia, you are completely asleep. The loss of consciousness and sensation is achieved by using various intravenous and inhaled drugs.
2) Regional anesthesia: During this type of anesthesia, you remain comfortably sedated while only a portion of your body is made numb. Techniques such as epidurals, spinals, or specific peripheral nerve blocks are examples of regional anesthesia.
3) Monitored Anesthetic Care (MAC): While your surgeon injects a numbing anesthetic at the site of the operation (such as an eyelid or finger, etc.), your anesthesiologist will carefully administer sedatives and painkillers through your IV. This will provide comfort during the procedure and you may even fall asleep. This type of anesthesia is used for short or superficial procedures.
Prior to any surgical procedure, an I.V. (intravenous line) is placed in a vein in your arm to give fluids and drugs during surgery.
While under any type of anesthesia, the function of your heart, lungs, and nervous system will be continuously monitored by the anesthesiologist. With this minute by minute assessment, your anesthesiologist can make any adjustments necessary to provide you with a comfortable, safe procedure.
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