Anesthesia for Weight Loss Surgery

While undergoing weight loss surgery, you will be under the skilled care of the anesthesiology team at Durham Regional Hospital.

Durham Regional Hospital Anesthesia

Anesthesia, historically, is a discipline that has been practiced in as many different ways as there were communities using the services of any anesthesia providers. Recent technological explosions, coupled with physiological and pharmacological breakthroughs, all subjected to the pressure of an ever shrinking health care dollar, has led to the conclusion that the practice of anesthesiology is best approached through the anesthesia care team.

The certified registered nurse anesthetist is the primary provider and the anesthesiologist is the perioperative physician. This combination provides the complete components of quality assurance to all consumers of anesthesia services. This anesthesia team has proven to be the most cost effective, safe and efficient delivery system at every step from patient to payer. Over 8,600 anesthesia services per year at Durham Regional Hospital and over 300 bariatric surgeries.

Anesthesia Providers

• Board certified or board eligible anesthesiologists
• Board certified or board eligible certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA)
• All CRNAs are re-certified every two years by Council on Recertification, AANA

Student Nurse Anesthetist Clinical Education in Bariatric Anesthesia:

Durham Regional Hospital is the primary clinical site for the Duke University School of Nurse Anesthesia. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are a valued member of our anesthesia team. The SRNAs are continually under direct supervision of the certified registered nurse anesthetists and/or anesthesiologist. Educating future CRNAs on the administration of anesthesia and perioperative care of the bariatric patient is a valuable asset to the consumer of anesthesia services and society. The Duke University School of Nurse Anesthesia has access to a human patient simulator (HPS) and simulation center. They utilize the HPS their first semester and anytime they need to simulate specialized anesthesia experience during their 28 months of study. The HPS prepares the SRNA for their bariatric clinical experience.

Co-Coordinators of the Bariatric Anesthesia Team:

Edward G. Sanders, MD , staff anesthesiologist, and Ruth E. Long, CRNA, staff anesthetist

Our principles of practice

What to expect before, during, and after your surgery