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Patient Information

What to Expect: Pre-Op?

Your surgical experience begins when your surgeon books your upcoming procedure with the hospital. At this point, it is necessary for us to start gathering information about you as our future patient. In order to provide a safe anesthetic and to minimize the chances of last minute cancellations, each patient must be evaluated preoperatively. The preoperative process progresses stepwise:

  • Hospital Screening: You will be contacted by the hospital for personal information and to answer a brief questionnaire regarding your health
  • Preoperative Interview: Phone interview- Healthy patients (based on questionnaire) having minor procedures may need only phone interviews with our preoperative screening nurses. In-Person Preoperative assessment- Depending on the complexity of the surgery and your personal health history, you will be screened either by a preoperative nurse or have an in person consultation with an anesthesiologist. Any necessary clearances (medical, pulmonary, cardiac, hematologic, etc.) will be ordered during your anesthetic consultation. Our expert nurses can usually help facilitate obtaining proper consultations quickly in order keep surgical dates. Occasionally, complex medical problems must be medically optimized prior to surgery, making postponement necessary. We do our very best to avoid this.
  • Preoperative Lab Work: Any lab work requested by your surgeon (blood work, x-rays, EKGs, etc.) can be completed at Stonesprings Hospital during the preoperative interview, or can be sent in by your primary doctor.

Day of Surgery

We understand that surgery can be a daunting experience. Therefore, we try to minimize many of the issues that can lead to anxiety or concern. As part of the pre-operative process, we have a system in place for gathering patient medical histories in advance (Please see Pre Operative Assessment page). This allows our attending anesthesiologists to review your medical history, to acquire any necessary lab work or testing, and to custom tailor an anesthestic plan for a safer and better outcome.

On the day of surgery, once you have registered you will be brought back to our preop holding area. You will be greeted by a pre-op holding nurse, who will measure your vital signs, review your medical history, start an IV (if needed), and give any preop medications that were ordered by your surgeon or anesthesiologist.

Later, you will be interviewed by your attending anesthesiologist, who will discuss your medical history and formulate an anesthetic plan with you. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have regarding your anesthesia. Shortly afterwards, you will also be introduced to one of our certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) who completes Anesthesia Care Team. Our CRNAs along with the attending anesthesiologist are responsible for your well-being while you are in surgery. While you are in surgery, a member of the Anesthesia Care Team will always be present.

Prior to your surgery, your surgeon and the OR nursing staff will also speak with you to answer any last minute questions you might have. After all the medical personnel have spoken with you, a sedative is often given as we proceed into the surgical suite. This sedative often causes an amenestic effect, so you may not remember going to the operating room.

Once your surgery is completed, our team will bring you the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for a recovery period. As your anesthesia begins to wear off, you will be closely monitored for pain and any side effects that develop from your anesthesia. Once you have sufficiently recovered from anesthesia, the recovery room nurses will admit you to the hospital surgical floor or give you discharge instructions and prescriptions for outpatient procedures.

What Anesthesia can I expect for my procedure?

  • General Anesthesia: Appendectomy, Laparoscopy, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Breast surgery, Carpal Tunnel Release, Spine Surgery, Joint Arthroscopy (Knee, hip, shoulder, ankle), Major Vascular Surgury, Lithotripsy, Hernia Surgery, Gastric Banding, Thoracic Surgery, Crainiotomy, Robotic Surgery, Hysterectomy.
  • Spinal Anesthesia: Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement, Cesarian Section.
  • Total Intravenous Anesthesia: Bronchoscopy, Colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP, Dilation and Curetage, Nerve Stimulator Placement, Vein Stripping, Toe procedures.
  • Regional Block: Total Shoulder replacement, Achilles Tendon Repair, Complex Hand Surgery.
  • Monitored Anesthesia Care: Skin procedures

**Please note that depending on a discussion between the patient, surgeon, and anesthesiologist these generalized lists may change. A patient's medical history and the surgeons preference strongly influence which anesthetic type will be used.

Helpful Links

The following are helpful links that can provide information about our specialty, current issues in anesthesiology and site to obtain information regarding the facilities where your operation will take place.

  • www.asahq.org - The official site of the American Society of Anesthesiology. It contains useful information about the various types of anesthesia, anesthetic interactions with vitamins and herbal medicines and current issues in the field of anesthesiology.
  • www.sambahq.org - The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. This site has information relating to outpatient anesthesia and a good frequently asked questions section.
  • www.asra.com - The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. It has information about all forms of regional anesthesia and pain medicine after surgery.
  • www.Stonespringshospital.com - The hospital web site
  • www.Stonespringssurgerycenter.com - The outpatient surgery center
  • www.soap.org - The Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. This society has information regarding anesthesia techniques for labor pain and cesarean section
  • www.asra.com - The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine