Patient Information

Today, a great majority of our patients arrive at the hospital on the same day of surgery instead of being admitted the night before as was once customary. Patients usually do not meet their anesthesiologist until just prior to surgery. As a result we find that patients are often more anxious about their anesthetic course than the actual surgery itself. Hopefully the following information will help to decrease your concerns. Please feel free to ask your anesthesiologist any question regarding anesthesia prior to proceeding to the operation room. Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible before, during and after surgery. We strive to provide complete, individualized and flexible anesthesia services, using the most up-to-date concepts of anesthesia care.

Important to the safe conduct of any anesthetic is an accurate medical history. This will be reviewed with you by your anesthesiologist. Medications (including herbals) which you are taking as well as allergies are important. Other surgical experiences and your general medical background play a part in planning your pending anesthesia.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I get to speak to my anesthesiologist?

Patients are rarely admitted the night before surgery and generally arrive only several hours before their scheduled operation. The evening prior to your operation, your anesthesiologist may attempt to reach you by telephone. However, sometimes that is not possible. After your arrival at the hospital, you will have the opportunity to meet your anesthesiologist, discuss the anesthetic procedure in detail and ask questions.

Your medical history, surgical experiences, and allergies will be reviewed with your anesthesiologist. A list of your current medications (including herbals) will be important to provide for your anesthesiologist. After carefully considering the nature of your surgery, your overall health, medical history, lab tests, and your own concerns and preferences, you, your anesthesiologist, and your surgeon will make the final decision about the type of anesthesia that is both safe and best for you.

What are my anesthesia choices?

Some surgical procedures can be accomplished readily with regional or local anesthesia. Regional anesthesia involves numbing a limited area of a patient's body to prevent pain during surgery. This can be accomplished with or without sedation. Other procedures may require general anesthesia. For certain procedures, we offer elective nerve blocks to help with post operative pain and reduce the amount of general anesthesia required. Your anesthesiologist will discuss these options with you as well as the risks or complications involved with general anesthesia, regional anesthesia or nerve blocks.

How am I monitored during anesthesia?

Your response to your anesthetic is continually monitored by the vigilance of your anesthesiologist. An increasing number of sophisticated monitoring devices are used to assure your well being and safety throughout the entire surgery.

Does anesthesia have risks and effects?

Yes. Anesthesia administration is safer than it has ever been in the history of medicine. Serious debilitating complications are very rare. The likelihood of any side effects or complications depends upon a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, your preoperative medical condition, the nature of the operation, and the anesthesia technique used.

The most common (unwanted) side effect is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Fortunately, the medications and techniques used in anesthesia today have reduced the incidence of PONV. Our own internal quality assurance program suggests that our overall incidence of PONV is lower than the national average.

Do I have to be asleep for my operation?

Some surgical procedures can be accomplished readily with regional or local anesthesia. Regional anesthesia involves numbing a limited area of a person's body to prevent pain during surgery. Other procedures may require general anesthesia. Be sure to discuss these options with your anesthesiologist.

Regional anesthesia, like general anesthesia, is safe. While complications and side effects with regional anesthesia are rare, they can include the following:

• Infections at the site of injection can range from inconsequential to life-threatening (meningitis).
• Rarely is permanent nerve damage a result of these techniques.
• Epidural, spinal, and caudal anesthetics are associated with a small but real risk of headaches. These may last several days after the procedure and may require special treatment.
• One can also experience temporary difficulty emptying the bladder, which may require catheterization of the bladder. This problem resolves as the anesthetics wear off.
• Heart, breathing, and blood pressure problems can occur.

When should I stop eating and drinking?

In order to reduce the risk of severe complications, we ask that all patients follow specific guidelines for eating and drinking.

Adults and Children over 2: STOP solids at midnight or at least 8 hours prior to surgery. You may have clear liquids up to 4 hours before surgery.

Children 2 Years and Younger: STOP solids (including formula) 6 hours before surgery, breast milk 4 hours before surgery, and clear liquids 2 hours before surgery.

Clear liquids are: water, Sprite or 7-Up, apple or cranberry juice, coffee or tea without cream or milk, and Pedialyte.

What about my medications?

Do Not Take:

• Large bulk medications such a Metamucil.
• Some medicines say "take with food or milk". Do NOT take those medications.
• Oral hypoglycemic agents (oral diabetic medicines): Do NOT take on the day of surgery.
• Glucophage: You may take Glucophage the evening before but do not take the morning of surgery.
• Diuretics (water pills) should not be taken the morning of surgery except when given for high blood pressure.
• Anticoagulants (such as Coumadin, aspirin, Plavix, Lovenox), and other Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory agents (such as Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen) should be stopped as directed by your surgeon. Call your surgeon's office if you usually take any of these medicines and have received no specific instruction.

You May Take:

• On the day of surgery, you may continue to take oral medication pills with a small sip of water (except as noted above).
• Chronic pain medications should continue to be taken.
• Insulin: Your dose for the day of surgery may be determined by your anesthesiologist, primary physician, or surgeon. If you have not received specific instructions regarding your insulin by the morning of your surgery, then take one half your usual dose and monitor your blood sugars closely.
• Inhalers for asthma and emphysema: use as scheduled and bring your inhalers with you to the hospital for continued use during your hospitalization.
• Take only those herbal medications approved by your anesthesiologist.

How will I be billed?

As a private group, anesthesia services are billed separate from the hospital. However, you will be billed by the hospital for your anesthesia drugs and supplies. We do participate with most of the same insurance plans as your hospital and surgeon. Depending on your insurance, you may have some out-of-pocket expense for our professional services.

If you have questions about your bill or need assistance in filing an insurance claim, contact our billing office by phone at (303) 788-0796 or by emailing us.

What if I have questions?

If you have questions or concerns about your care, contact our office at (303) 761-5646.