Anesthesia

The most common side effects of anesthesia are nausea, sore throat and headache. Children are often disoriented from anesthesia and may be temporarily delirious in the recovery room when they wake up. With spinal and epidural anesthetics, temporary difficulty with urination is common. Some pain medications may cause common and temporary conditions like itching and nausea.

In most cases, you may choose your anesthesiologist. Let the surgeon performing your procedure know beforehand if you want to select your anesthesiologist.

Yes, but the final selection depends on the type of surgery or procedure, your medical condition and your doctor’s medical judgment.

Anesthesia is safer today than ever, thanks to our anesthesiologists’ extensive training and sophisticated monitoring equipment. Severe and potentially fatal complications are very rare, but your risk depends on the type of surgery and your overall health. If you have questions about risks, please speak with your anesthesiologist.

Your stomach needs to be empty for surgery to avoid the small risk of stomach contents getting into your lungs during the procedure. For your safety, we may postpone your surgery if you eat or drink after midnight the night before your surgery (unless your doctor directs you to do so).

Please bring any information regarding your pacemaker into the operating room. The type of pacemaker and the last time it was checked are critical. If you can, ask your cardiologist or pacemaker technician what the “magnet mode” is for your pacemaker.

If you’re taking medications, consult your doctor or anesthesiologist about whether to take them before surgery. Depending on your particular condition, your anesthesiologist may adjust your prescriptions or dosages.

You’ll be monitored in the recovery room until your anesthesiologist and nurse feel you’re stable enough to transfer to a regular hospital room or go home. You may go directly from the operating room to the intensive care unit for some surgeries.

We provide anesthesia services in many areas including but not limited to:

• Clinics
• Emergency department
• Inpatient and outpatient operating rooms
• Obstetrical and gynecological rooms
• Psychiatry department
• Radiology department
• Special procedure areas (e.g., endoscopy suite, pain management clinic, etc.)