Many patients have questions, concerns, or fears about surgery and anesthesia. Talking with your health-care team can alleviate many of your concerns.

The anesthesiology team will explain to you what you can expect before, during, and after surgery. Our goal is to preserve your safety and dignity throughout the course of your hospital care.

Some commonly asked questions include:

• Will the anesthesia provider be with me the entire time I am under anesthesia? Yes. Once the anesthesia team assumes your care we never leave you, unless a qualified anesthesia provider relieves us.
• Will the anesthesiologist and CRNA both be with me at all times? Not necessarily. Either one or both of the anesthesia providers will be with you all the time.
• What should I tell the person taking my anesthesia history? Everything about your past and present medical history.
• Should I give a history of my surgical history? Yes. Have a written history of all your surgeries with dates and location of surgeries.
• Should I give a list of all my medications? Yes. Have a written list of all drugs you are taking. This should include drugs the doctors has prescribed, drugs you buy over the counter, and any herbal medications. Make sure you include the name, dose, and how often you take any of the above drugs mentioned.
• When should I stop eating and drinking? Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery.
• Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. Make sure to only rinse your mouth. Do not drink water after you brush your teeth.
• Do I need to give a history of any recent falls or injuries? Yes. Any falls, bruises, scratches.
• Should I give a history of limited joint movement? Yes. Please show how your arms, legs, or neck are limited in movement and any pain related to that movement.
• What about any family history of anesthesia problems? Yes. Any problems your extended family may have had with anesthesia is important. Also any problems you may have experienced with anesthesia.
• How much of my body will be exposed while I am asleep? Your privacy is protected while you are asleep. Only areas necessary to accomplish the surgery will be exposed.
• Should I bring my C-PAP machine to the hospital the day of surgery? Yes. You will need your C-PAP machine.

Other Considerations

• Men with beards are required to shave prior to surgery for safety reasons. Beards can create a problem placing the breathing tube necessary to deliver oxygen to you.
• Remove eye makeup and artificial nails.
• Remove any piercings, such as earrings, tongue rings, belly button rings, and all other piercings.
• Remove all other jewelry.
• Remove dentures, partial plates, or any removable teeth just prior to coming to surgery.
• Remove any hair pieces, hair pins, or any metal objects from your hair.
• Remember to empty your bladder just prior to coming to the operating room.
• Do not use breath mints, or hard candy after midnight prior to your surgery.
• Do not smoke as many days as possible prior to your surgery.
• Do not take Viagra or any other similar type medications 48 hours prior to your surgery. These drugs may cause an adverse effect with your anesthesia agents
• Ask with the nurse doing your anesthesia history about what medications you should or should not take prior to surgery. Please give a history of all use of diet pills.
• Please advise us of any broken, missing or loose teeth, and of any permanent partial plates.
• Your participation with a complete medical history will allow the anesthesia team to better establish your plan of anesthesia care and safety.
• Bring a list of questions you have about your anesthesia to your preoperative anesthesia appointment.

What Should I Expect the Day of Surgery?

You will be called the day before your surgery to be given a time to arrive at the hospital the day of your surgery. You should go to the main lobby (third level).

When the time is close, the receptionist will call for you and escort you to your bed space. You will be given a gown and slipper socks. The nurse will take your blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

Give all of your valuables to your family or the responsible person with you.

You will get one shot with a very small needle by the nurse. After the nurse has finished, make sure you empty your bladder.

You will meet the anesthesia team, which consists of a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and an anesthesiologist. You will sign an anesthesia permit after all your questions have been answered.

You will now leave the room by stretcher and go to the Preoperative Holding Room. You will have an IV placed by the anesthesia team. Local anesthesia will be used to start your IV. We feel this makes starting the IV less painful.

Next, you will receive an antibiotic ordered by your surgeon. You will then go to the operating room. Your anesthesia team will inform you of everything we are doing to facilitate a safe anesthetic.

A number of monitors will be placed. EKG to trace your heart, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter on your finger to measure the oxygen in your blood, BIS monitor pad on your forehead. This measures your brain waves and indicates the depth of anesthesia. This pad is prickly when it is applied.

Now, we will ask you to breathe oxygen by a clear plastic mask. We will start to give you medications through your IV, that will start to make you feel sleepy.

Then you will receive medicine through your IV that will put you off to sleep. The anesthesia team will monitor your blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, and depth of your anesthesia while you are asleep.

Once you meet the anesthesia team, we will be with you continuously until we take you to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). At that time, we will report your care to the nurse in PACU.

While you are asleep, the anesthesia team will be your advocate. We will protect your privacy and dignity. We will give you anti nausea medicine while you are asleep to help prevent nausea. We will keep you warm while you are asleep with a special warming blanket. We will monitor your temperature while you are asleep.

A catheter will be placed in your bladder in the operating room, after you are asleep.

After you wake up, we will place an oxygen mask on your face to make sure you get enough oxygen while you wake up.

The post-anesthesia nurse will stay with you in the recovery room. He or she will monitor you and keep you warm, as well as give you pain medication and anything else you need.

We will monitor your recovery in the post-anesthesia recovery room. We will visit you the next day to check on your recovery.

This is an attempt to let you know what to expect. This process may have additions, we will keep you informed and answer your questions to your satisfaction.

Remember, you are the most important member of our team. The information you bring to us about your health history will help guide our anesthesia plan for you.

We look forward to meeting you and delivering your anesthesia, care for your surgery.