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ANESTHESIA IS A MAJOR PART OF YOUR SURGERY
Before, during and immediately after your operation, you will receive comprehensive anesthetic care to assure your safety and comfort. The Department of Anesthesiology utilizes an Anesthesia Care Team approach, which includes anesthesiologists (physicians) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) working together in a collaborative fashion under the guidance of the anesthesiologist. Our anesthesia department covers surgical procedures performed at the Sacramento hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 2025 Morse Avenue, the Rancho Cordova Eye Center lcoated at 10725 International Drive, and the Roseville hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 1600 Eureka Road. We consider ourselves your “guardian angels” during surgery. Your anesthesia care is designed to minimize pain and anxiety and to maintain all your vital functions in a smooth and stable fashion. The specific anesthetic technique selected is individualized to your needs and is based upon many factors which include your medical history, your physical condition, the nature and extent of your surgery and, whenever possible, your personal preferences.
THE PREOPERATIVE CONSULTATION
The preoperative anesthesia consultation (screening) is a key part of your surgical experience. Your anesthesia consult can either be one or more days in advance of your surgery or it may be on the day of surgery while you are in the preoperative area awaiting surgery. An anesthesia provider will review your medical and surgical history and order any necessary diagnostic tests such as blood tests or an EKG. The type of anesthetic that is judged best for you will be discussed, including risks and benefits, and alternative techniques if appropriate. The anesthesia provider will answer any questions you may have and is there to address any concerns you have about undergoing anesthesia. He or she can also prescribe preoperative medication to be administered prior to surgery.
Please Note: You will not necessarily be scheduled for an advance appointment in the Anesthesia Preoperative Clinic. However, if for any reason you wish to meet with an anesthesiologist in advance of the day of surgery, you are welcome to do so. We have walk-in screening clinics in both Sacramento and Roseville Monday through Friday from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. We are always pleased to see any patient who feels they would benefit from advance discussions about anesthesia.
EATING OR DRINKING BEFORE SURGERY
You will be asked not to eat or drink for a period of time before your surgery. The pre-op phone call nurse will try to contact you one business day prior to your scheduled surgery and give you specific instructions. (Call on Friday for Monday surgery). In most cases we ask you not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery. The only exception to this rule is that if you normally take medication in the morning, you may take a few sips of water with your usual morning medications. These restrictions are designed to minimize any problems related to nausea or vomiting during your anesthetic.
Please Note: Do not take diabetes medications (including pills or insulin) on the day of surgery unless specifically directed to do so. Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin. Medications with blood-thinning effects (such as aspirin or coumadin) may need to be stopped several days before surgery. Please ask your surgeon about when to stop them.
DURING YOUR SURGERY
The primary anesthetist who will be with you throughout your entire anesthetic in the operating room may be either an anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist, or both. During your operation, your vital functions will be closely monitored and medications and fluids will be administered as necessary. Since every individual is unique and responds differently to surgery, no two anesthetics are exactly alike.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANESTHETICS
There are three major classes of anesthetics and each (or a combination) may be appropriate for different situations:
General Anesthesia:
Drugs are administered intravenously or by inhalation to render you unconscious and cause your entire body to be insensible to pain during surgery. Common after-effects may include sleepiness, muscle aches, nausea, and soreness in the throat. These usually resolve completely within 2 or 3 days.
Regional Anesthesia:
This approach numbs a major portion of your body using local anesthetic agents. Examples include spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia, which cause numbness in the lower portions of the body. Other examples include axillary block or intravenous regional techniques that produce numbness of the arm and hand.
Local Anesthesia:
Injection of local anesthetic drugs directly into the surgical area may suffice for minor procedures. While the surgeon will usually inject the surgical area with local anesthetic, the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will provide any necessary sedation or other additional medications to assure that you are comfortable and as stable as possible. Please note that intravenous sedative drugs are commonly used in conjunction with regional anesthesia and local anesthesia in order to help you relax or promote a light sleep during surgery.
AFTER YOUR SURGERY
In the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU or recovery room), an anesthesia care team member will direct your medical care until you are either discharged to home or sent to a hospital room. The nature and duration of your surgery, as well as the type of anesthesia that you have had will affect your recovery from anesthesia. Patients going home on the same day of surgery must meet established criteria before being discharged. Because very small concentrations of anesthetic and sedative agents may persist in your body for up to 24 hours, it is important not to drive, operate dangerous machinery, or make major decisions for approximately 24 hours after your anesthetic.
 | For information on our Health Education classes in the Sacramento/Roseville area or to receive nutritional advice or other health education information, e-mail one of our Health Educators at: csa.health-education@kp.org. |
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