Patient Information
What should you expect when you are a Panhandle patient?
Your anesthesia team will keep you as comfortable as possible before, during, and immediately after your procedure. The type of anesthesia used will be carefully selected to safely minimize your discomfort and anxiety. Your doctor will base this decision on several factors, including your medical history, physical condition, type of surgery, surgeon's preference, and, whenever possible, your personal preference. You may be asked to attend our Anesthesia Preoperative Clinic, where a specialized RN will discuss your medical history and answer your questions. Please make every attempt to be present; this helps us provide the best possible anesthetic experience for you.
Preoperative Instructions
SMOKING: Stop smoking as soon as possible. Even twelve hours without smoking makes a difference, but six weeks is optimal. This will help both during your surgery and throughout your recovery period.
EATING/DRINKING: To minimize the danger of vomiting and possibly inhaling stomach contents into the lungs, the following rules have been established in accordance with most recent guidelines from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. These rules are intended for healthy adults and children of all ages undergoing elective surgery. They may be modified for patients with coexisting diseases or conditions that can affect gastric emptying. If the guidelines are not followed, then surgery may be postponed or cancelled.
All solid food should be consumed more than 8 hours prior to hospital arrival. If you are scheduled to arrive at 5:00 AM, then no solid food after 9:00 PM the night prior.
Infant formula may be consumed up to 6 hours prior to hospital arrival.
For breastfeeding infants, breast milk may be consumed up to 4 hours prior to hospital arrival. The infant should finish breastfeeding at least 4 hours before arriving at the hospital.
Clear liquids such as juice without pulp, electrolyte drinks, coffee without cream or milk (black coffee) or water may be consumed for up to 2 hours prior to hospital arrival. The volume of liquids before the 2 hour cutoff should not exceed 8 ounces.
MEDICATIONS: Unless directed by your doctor, take your normal medications on the morning of the surgery. You can take your morning medications with sips of water when you first wake up. Please omit vitamins and any over-the-counter medications not prescribed by a physician. If you are taking any diabetic or anticoagulant (blood thinner) medications, please consult your internist or surgeon about whether to discontinue or modify their use.
FOR OUR OBSTETRIC PATIENTS: Congratulations! We are eager to make childbirth a comfortable and fulfilling experience. A mainstay in care for labor and delivery is epidural anesthesia; for more information please click here to see our video “What is an Epidural?”
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The day of your procedure
On the day of your procedure, you will be taken to the pre-operative area where you will change into a hospital gown. You will be given a special bag for your clothes and other belongings.
You will be evaluated by your anesthesia team. You may be asked some questions that you have already answered during your pre-surgery evaluation. It is important for us to double-check this information. The anesthesia plan will be discussed with you, including risks and benefits, and your questions answered.
An intravenous (IV) line will be started to give you medications and fluids during surgery. For young children this may be done once put under anesthesia depending on the circumstances.
You can have a friend or family member wait with you until you are taken to the operating/procedure room. He/she will be instructed where to wait during your surgery.
When your surgeon is ready, we will administer your anesthetic medications. Your heart activity, blood pressure, and oxygen levels will be carefully monitored before, during, and immediately after the procedure.
In the post-anesthesia care unit (recovery room), your care will initially be supervised by your anesthesia team. Once your condition is deemed stable, your care will be turned over to a trained registered nurse. Your recovery from anesthesia will be affected by the type of surgery you had, how long it lasted, and what kind of anesthesia was used.
If you have general anesthesia, your throat may be a bit sore from the breathing tube used during surgery. The soreness normally disappears within 24 hours. If you experience nausea or pain after surgery, please inform your nurse. If you are given a spinal/epidural anesthetic or nerve block you will receive instructions as to what to expect.
If you are having same-day surgery, a friend or family member must be available to drive you home. You will not be permitted to leave on your own or unaccompanied in a taxi or ride share. For 24 hours after your surgery, and while taking any narcotic pain medications, be sure to avoid driving, power tools, important decisions, or any other activity that might require good reflexes and judgment.