What to Know About Anesthesia: How to Prepare for Surgery

The Best Anesthesiologist Insights to Equip and Inform You  Before Your Procedure

Before Surgery: Your Anesthesia Guide

Many surgical procedures today do not require a hospital stay, as nearly two-thirds are performed at outpatient facilities. However, just like in-hospital surgeries, most outpatient procedures require anesthesia — and the importance of anesthesia cannot be overstated. Proper planning can significantly enhance the safety and success of these surgeries.

Physician anesthesiologists are crucial in ensuring patient safety by meeting with the patient before surgery (whether in the hospital or outpatient setting), closely monitoring anesthesia and vital body functions during the operation, and overseeing the patient's recovery to ensure smooth progress and effective pain control.

At G2 Anesthesia, we’re here to help you understand the processes, what to expect, and how to have the best postoperative recovery possible. Think of this as your “anesthesia procedures explained” handbook!

Anesthesia Basics: What are the Types of Anesthesia?

At G2 Anesthesia, we believe in keeping you informed about sedation and the various types of anesthesia: general, regional, and local anesthesia. Understanding the differences in how each type works and when it is typically used is crucial.

All types of anesthesia are administered to ensure you are comfortable and pain-free during surgery, medical procedures, or tests. However, there are key differences among them. The type you receive will depend on factors such as the procedure, your health, and your preference.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is used for major operations, such as abdominal or open-heart surgery, and utilized when complete loss of consciousness is necessary.

IV/Monitored Sedation

IV/Monitored Sedation is often used for minimally invasive procedures like colonoscopies. The level of sedation ranges from minimal, where you are drowsy but able to talk, to deep sedation.

Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia is commonly used during childbirth, also known as labor and delivery anesthesia, which includes epidurals. Regional anesthesia is also used during extremity surgeries. It numbs a large part of the body while you can choose how aware you’d like to be.

Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is used for procedures such as getting stitches or removing a mole. It numbs a small area, and you remain alert and awake.

Pain Management

Anesthesiologists play a crucial role in postoperative pain management, ensuring patients remain comfortable during recovery. They develop personalized pain relief plans, utilize medications and techniques tailored to individual needs, and closely monitor patients to adjust treatments as necessary for optimal comfort and recovery.

What Is the Role of the Anesthesiologist?

Your anesthesiologist is a physician whose medical expertise in physiology and pharmacology ensures your safety and comfort before, during, and after a procedure.

Anesthesiologists collaborate with you and your surgeon before surgery to assess your health to custom-tailor an anesthesia care plan that is as safe and effective as possible. During surgery, they monitor your vital signs, including the function of all major organs, as well as your state of awareness and unconsciousness. After surgery, they continue to care for you, ensuring you are as comfortable as possible during recovery.

The best anesthesiologists in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area also play a crucial role in managing patients undergoing minor surgery or those who do not require general anesthesia, such as women in labor, who need to be awake and alert but require effective pain management.

The role of an Anesthesiologist is to guide your pain management throughout your entire surgical experience:

Do Your Homework On Your Anesthesiologist and Surgeon

It’s important to check to make sure your anesthesiologist and your surgeon are the best and can provide your expected level of care, but you must do your own homework to ensure the following:

The surgeon/physician is board-certified in the appropriate specialty.

You can check by visiting www.certificationmatters.org. Verify that the surgeon, nurses, and staff have substantial experience performing your specific procedure.

The facility is licensed.

If the procedure is at an outpatient surgery center or a physician’s office, ensure it is licensed (check with your state’s health department) and accredited by organizations like The Joint Commission, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).

Emergency procedures are in place.

While complications are rare, they do happen. Ensure the center has emergency medications, equipment, and established procedures, especially if no emergency facility is nearby. Ask if the facility has a crash cart and if the providers are trained to handle breathing emergencies.

An expert should provide the anesthesia.

Ensure your anesthesia care is led by a physician anesthesiologist, a medical doctor specializing in anesthesia, pain, and critical care medicine, who collaborates with your surgeon to develop and administer your anesthesia care plan. These specialists undergo 12 to 14 years of education and 12,000-16,000 hours of clinical training to ensure safe, high-quality care.

Want to discover more insights about anesthesia and learn about the different types of care? Check out our patient education articles!