Anesthesiology

You can receive general anesthesia in 2 ways:

1. As a gas or vapor inhaled through a breathing mask or tube
2. As a medication introduced through a vein

For surgeries requiring general anesthesia, rest assured that your anesthesiologist will carefully monitor and control your vitals while you're in a deep sleep. How much anesthesia and how long it’s administered is a precise science.

As an extra safety step, a breathing tube may be used to ensure your breathing is normal throughout the surgery. Once your surgery wraps up, your anesthesiologist will be right alongside you in the recovery room, where you will then regain consciousness.

Regional anesthesia is injected near a cluster of nerves to numb an area of your body. Nowadays, there are smart devices that help anesthesiologists pinpoint nerves that need to be targeted for the procedure.

Two of the most common types of regional anesthesia are:

1. Spinal anesthesia
2. Epidural anesthesia

These 2 forms are injected into the back with great precision. They're frequently preferred for childbirth and prostate surgery.

Local anesthesia is usually injected into the tissue to numb the targeted body part. For example, we might numb only a part of your hand or foot.

Yes, you can sometimes request certain kinds of anesthesia. After reviewing your individual situation, your anesthesiologist will discuss any available options with you.

Have peace of mind knowing that risks from anesthesia are very rare. Your anesthesiologist takes precautions to ensure you’re in the safest hands possible.

Anesthesia risks vary between procedures and your unique conditions. Our team is always available to discuss your concerns, so please talk through your questions with your anesthesiologist

Yes, anesthesia is safe. The American Society of Anesthesiologists developed national standards to enhance the safety and quality of anesthesia.

Here are a few standards that are already used today:

• Patient care before surgery
• Basic methods of monitoring patients during surgery
• Patient care during recovery
• Conduction anesthesia in obstetrics

Your safety always comes first. The combination of today’s standards, monitoring approaches, anesthesia equipment and medications makes anesthesia safer than ever.

Yes, many of our staff have subspecialty training and certification in pediatric anesthesia. We take pediatric anesthesia very seriously, which is why we even have a dedicated Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship program, where we train future generations of professionals to provide unmatched care for even our littlest patients.