WHAT TYPE OF ANESTHESIA WILL I HAVE?
Depending on the type of procedure that you are having, there are a variety of types of anesthesia that you may receive. This depends on your health, type of surgery, and the recommendation of your doctor and anesthesiologist.
THERE ARE BASICALLY FOUR TYPES OF ANESTHESIA THAT MAY BE USED:
GENERAL ANESTHESIA: General anesthesia causes the loss of consciousness. It usually begins in the operating room when medications are given through your IV (a small plastic tube placed in your arm to give you medications). It is usually continued during your procedure along with other medications given through your IV, as well as gases you breath.
REGIONAL ANESTHESIA: This involves the injection of a local anesthetic to provide numbness and loss of pain or sensation to a large region of the body. This technique includes spinal blocks, epidural blocks and arm and leg blocks.
MONITORED ANESTHESIA CARE (TWILIGHT ANESTHESIA): This consists of local injection at the site of your surgery as well as the use of medications given to you through your IV to make you drowsy. While you are sedated, your anesthesiologist will monitor your body functions and make sure that you are safe and comfortable throughout your surgery.
IV SURGEON: This is mild sedation given to you through an IV and directed by your surgeon. While you are sedated, a registered surgical nurse will monitor your body functions and make sure that you are safe and comfortable throughout your surgery. Depending on your surgery you may be given local pain medication at the site of surgery as well.
LOCAL ANESTHESIA: This provides numbness to a small area and may be injected by your surgeon. Your anesthesiologist and physician will discuss the full range of information regarding the use and advantages of each of these anesthetic techniques with you.
WHEN WILL I MEET MY ANESTHESIOLOGIST?
When you are scheduled for preoperative testing at Oak Brook Surgical Center, you will have an opportunity to meet with and discuss your case with one of our anesthesiologists. You can make an appointment to see an anesthesiologist at Oak Brook Surgical Center within two weeks prior to your scheduled surgery.
During that interview, you will discuss several issues, including your health, any allergies you may have, medication that you are taking and the type of anesthesia that is planned for your procedure. They may also discuss the results of any preoperative testing that you may have had at another facility, including your EKG, chest x-ray, and laboratory blood work.
This is a good time to ask questions about what you will experience. Our goal is to prepare you for surgery medically, physically and psychologically.