Surgical Services
Anesthesia: Pre-Operative Information for Patients
Who are anesthesiologists?
The anesthesiologist
is responsible for your sedation. Anesthesiologists are doctors who
provide one-on-one medical care during surgery. These physicians work
to ensure the best possible outcome from your upcoming procedure.
What does the anesthesiologist do during the procedure?
- provides
for your comfort and safety
- manages pre-existing medical
conditions and problems that may develop during surgery
- monitors
and controls blood pressure, EKG, heart rate, breathing and oxygen
levels
- gives medications to control pain
Can I eat
or drink before my surgery?
Follow these guidelines unless otherwise
instructed by your surgeon.
- During the four hours before: Do
not eat or drink anything (only small sips of water to swallow
medicines).
- Four to eight hours before: You may only drink clear
liquids, such as water, sport drinks, fruit juices without pulp,
black coffee, clear tea or carbonated drinks. You may drink up
to two glasses.
- Eight to 12 hours before: You may only eat a
small light meal (toast, jam, cereal, fruit and clear liquids).
Do not eat fried or fatty foods. Do not eat any food after midnight
if your surgeon has placed you on a clear liquid diet or if you
are having a procedure involving your stomach or bowels.
What
are the types of anesthesia?
- General is similar to a deep sleep.
During surgery, you will not feel, see or hear anything.
- Regional
(epidural, spinal, nerve blocks) puts part of your body to sleep.
Injecting drugs around the appropriate nerves produces numbness.
This is often combined with sedation that provides a state of
relaxation.
- Sedation increases your comfort and provides relaxation
and pain control.
How does the anesthesiologist choose the
type of anesthesia to give me?
Your anesthesiologist makes this
decision in consultation with your surgeon. He or she bases this
decision on what is needed for your surgery, your medical history
and health, and your wishes.
What if I smoke?
We encourage
you to stop smoking. You can get help from the:
- Holy
Cross Hospital Nicotine Dependence Center at 301-754-7278.
- State
of Maryland Quit Smoking Line at 1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669).
What about awareness during surgery?
- Intended Awareness. Sometimes
it is appropriate or necessary for a patient to be awake or aware.
Patients may have some awareness when brought into the operating
room (before the surgery starts) and when waking up from anesthesia
(after the procedure is over).
- Unintended Awareness. This is
rare. The anesthesiologist takes many precautions to prevent
unintended awareness.
What about possible complications or
side effects from anesthesia?
Serious complications are rare.
Anesthesia is much safer and more effective than ever before.
- Nausea and vomiting may occur as the result of narcotic pain
medicine, certain types of procedures and the patient’s
history of nausea or motion sickness. There are several medications
available that decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting.
- Dental injury may be unavoidable. A tooth, cap or bridge may
become chipped or loosened when the anesthesiologist is managing
your breathing.
- Sore throat is common along with some tongue
or lip swelling after surgery.
- Nerve injury that causes permanent
loss of sensation or strength in part of the body is rare.
- Back
injury from epidurals or spinals is not common. In fact, epidural
injections are a common treatment of severe back pain.
- Serious
complications like heart or lung failure are most often related
to the patient’s pre-existing health and medical condition.
Heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking
and severe obesity increase the risk of these complications.
Your anesthesiologist looks forward to meeting and taking care
of you
Before your procedure date, you may be asked or may request
to make an appointment to meet with a member of the department.
We also may require additional testing or evaluations in order
to be able to provide the safest anesthesia care. The day of
your surgery, immediately before your procedure, you will meet
your anesthesiologist to discuss and finalize the best anesthetic
plan for you.
Return to top.