Once you and your doctor decide that surgery will help you, you will need to learn what to expect from the surgery and create a treatment plan for the best results afterward.

Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process, and your role in it, will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Together, you, your surgeon and your anesthesia provider will develop an anesthetic care plan which may include preoperative sedation and other medications if necessary.

Your safety is our primary concern. Your entire health care team will follow rigorous guidelines regarding site identification and procedure confirmation. National Patient Safety Goals have been developed which require your involvement too. You will be asked numerous times to confirm both the procedure you are having and the surgical site. You should take a very active role in all discussions with your physician, your anesthesia provider, and our staff regarding the identification of your procedure and the correct surgical site. In most cases, your surgeon will mark the site prior to your procedure.

Please be sure to notify your physician, anesthesiologist, and nurse prior to the date of surgery if you think you may be pregnant. The surgical procedure, anesthesia, and medications may be harmful to a developing baby.

You will be contacted a few days prior to surgery by a member of your health care team. This call will include a routine health assessment, instructions for the day of surgery, and answers to any questions you may have. You may also be contacted by someone in the facility’s business office to address financial matters such as your responsibility for co-payments and deductibles. Finally, you may also be contacted by your anesthesiologist. Before any surgical procedure, your doctor might ask you to take certain steps to get ready for surgery.  Here are some tips to make sure you’re prepared.

Tell your physician anesthesiologist all about your health, such as how physically active you are and if you have chronic health issues, such as asthma or other lung problems, diabetes, heart disease, liver or kidney disease, allergies or any other medical conditions. Be sure to mention if you snore or have other sleep problems; these may be symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, which can make surgery and anesthesia more dangerous. Provide a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements and vitamins you take. Your physician anesthesiologist might tell you to stop taking some of them.

The use of recreational drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, narcotics and stimulants should be discussed. These substances can affect how you react to anesthesia and the type and amount you’ll need.

Tell the physician anesthesiologist if you or a family member has had a bad reaction to anesthesia or pain medication, and make them aware of any anesthesia side effects you’ve experienced — even if they occurred years ago. Also mention if you’ve ever had a stroke or have experienced heat stroke.

It’s natural to fear surgery and anesthesia. If you’re afraid, tell your physician anesthesiologist. He or she can give you information to ease your mind and help you feel safe.

Bring written questions to your meeting. Write down the answers, because it’s difficult to remember everything you hear. Bring a friend or family member who can take notes and ask questions, as well as provide information you may not have thought of.

All surgical procedures and all anesthetics have risks. These risks depend on many factors, including the type of surgery and the medical condition of the patient. Your anesthesiologist will assess your preoperative needs and every precaution will be taken to minimize your risk. We routinely see minor symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, tiredness, headache, and muscle aches/pain, most of which are easily treated. Please feel free to discuss any questions with your anesthesia provider.

Depending on the type of surgery, there may be anesthesia options. Your physician or anesthesiologist provider will discuss available options with you after reviewing your medical history.

Yes, there are five different categories of sedation and anesthesia: Conscious Sedation, General, Regional, Monitored Anesthesia Care and Local Anesthesia. Regardless of the type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive, special anesthetic agents and techniques are used to provide a safe and speedy recovery. If there are alternative methods available for your surgery, and often there are, your physician or anesthesia provider will discuss them with you before surgery.

The physician anesthesiologist continues to care for you after surgery, so ask about how any pain will be managed and any concerns you have about recovery, returning home and getting back to your normal routine.