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Preoperative Questions:
Qualified medical professionals welcome and encourage questions about surgical
procedures. In fact, studies have shown that well-informed patients heal faster
and report a better overall surgical experience. The following are some questions
you may want to ask your anesthesiologist about what you can expect before, during
and after your surgery. Also, some of the information that you will need to provide
to help insure that your anesthetic experience is optimal. Be sure that all of
your questions are answered clearly and completely.
Some questions you need answered are the following:
What are the qualifications of your anesthesiologist and surgeon? Are they Board
Certified in their specialty?
What other anesthesia provider may be involved with my anesthesia care? Does
the facility practice in the Anesthesia Care Team mode whereby your anesthetic
medical care is directed and surpervised by an anesthesiologist but continual
monitoring in the operating rooms is provided by a Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist or an Anesthesiologist Assistant? A qualified anesthesia provider should
be present with you throughout your anesthetic experience.
Will I meet with an anesthesiologist before surgery? Sometimes, the anesthesiologist
will meet with you on the day of surgery prior to your surgery and explain about
the anesthesia plan for your procedure.
Do you monitor my heart and breathing? What else?
Today's routine monitoring capabilities allow for the monitoring of the heart (rate and rhythm),
breathing (rate, volume, pressures, end tidal carbon dioxide, inspired and expired
oxygen percentage, inspired and expired inhalational anesthetic agents), pulse
oximetry (percent oxygen saturation in the blood), and sometimes your EEG is monitored.
Other more invasive monitoring may be needed for complicated surgical procedures or very sick patients.
Do you have a recovery room that is staffed by qualified and trained recovery room nurses? If not, where will I recover from my anesthetic? Is there an anesthesiologist available to treat me in the recovery room and is there an anesthesiologist available to respond to the recovery room during my entire recovery room stay? Who will manage my pain control needs after surgery?
Typical Pre-Operative Procedures:
A person undergoing anesthesia is expected not to eat, drink, chew, or suck on
anything for a period of time before their procedure. As times vary, one should
be clear about this prior to your anesthestic.
Some medications should be taken on the day of surgery. Please inquire about which
medications you should take or not take.
Any herbal medications you take should be identified and disclosed to the person
asking your medical history. Some herbal medications do interfere with anesthestic
medications and these need to be considered along with your prescription medications.
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