Home

Who is an Anesthesiologist?

Types of Anesthesia

Before Surgery

Recovery at Home

Insurance

Consent Form

Meet your Anesthesiologist

What happens when I arrive at the surgery center?

Most commonly, you will meet the Anesthesiologist who will care for you on the day of your surgery before you go into the operating room. Your Anesthesiologist will then review your medical and anesthesia history and the results of any laboratory tests and will answer any further questions you may have.

Please be sure to advise your Anesthesiologist if you or any blood relatives have any history of Sickle Cell Disease or prior anesthetic difficulties including Malignant Hyperthermia or problems involving muscle relaxants. Also be sure to mention any drug allergies that you may have.

Nurses will record your vital signs, and your Anesthesiologist and Surgeon will visit with you, completing any evaluations and laboratory tests. Intravenous fluids will be started and preoperative medications given, if needed. Once in the operating room, monitoring devices will be attached such as a blood pressure cuff, ECG and other devices for your safety. At this point, you will be ready for anesthesia.

Things You Should Know Before Surgery

We ask that you follow a few guidelines the night before and day of your procedure. These guidelines are for your safety, and not following them could result in your case being cancelled or postponed.

• Eating: You may not eat anything after midnight before your procedure. You may, however, drink clear liquids up to 4 hours before your scheduled arrival time at the hospital. Clear liquids may be thought of as anything you can read a newspaper through. Specifically, this does not include milk/dairy or juice with pulp. A few examples are:
• Clear Liquid
  ALLOWED:
  
  • Water
  • Black coffee
  • Black tea without milk
  • Apple juice
  • Sodas(Sprite, coke, etc.)
  • Pedialyte
NOT ALLOWED:

• Milk
• Coffee with cream
• Orange juice
• Protein
• Shakes/smoothies
• Medication:Most medications that you would normally take each morning should still be taken as scheduled the morning of your procedure. This is especially important with heart and blood pressure medications, except as noted below.
  You should NOT take the following medications the morning of your procedure unless you are specifically told by your physician to do so:
  • Any diuretics (fluid pills) this includes, but is not limited to: furosemide (Lasix), HCTZ (HydroDIURIL), triamterene (Dyrenium), torsemide (Demadex), spironolactone (Aldactone), acetazolamide (Diamox)
  • Any oral diabetic medication this includes, but is not limited to: pioglitazone (Actos), glimepiride (Amaryl), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glyburide (DiaBeta), meformin (Glucophage), glipizide (Glucotrol), miglitol (Glyset), tolbutamide (Orinase), repaglinide (Prandin), acarbose (Precose), nateglinide (Starlix), tolazamide (Tolinase)
  • Any medication that has to be taken with food or milk
  • Anticoagulants such as Coumadin (warfarin), Lovenox (Enoxaparin), Plavix (Clopidogrel), and aspirin should be held prior to surgery. Please consult your surgeon for the length of time to hold these medications before your surgery.
• If You Smoke, please refrain for at least a week prior to surgery.
• Will I need someone to take me home?
  • Yes, you must make arrangements for a responsible adult to take you home after your anesthetic or sedation. You will not be allowed to leave alone or drive yourself home. It is strongly suggested that you have someone stay with you during the first 24 hours.
  • If you have local anesthesia only, with no sedation, it may be possible to go home without someone to accompany you. Check with your doctor first.
• What should I wear?
  • If at all possible, wear loose-fitting clothes that are easy to put on and will fit over bulky bandages or surgical dressings. Leave your jewelry and valuables at home.