Information for Patients

If you are a patient who is anticipating needing a surgery soon, chances are that you will also need anesthesia. Regardless of the complexity of your future surgery, it is natural that every surgery can cause some level of anxiety. At Vulcan Anesthesia®, we understand and are committed to providing you with the very best level of care, reducing your stress, and ensuring that all of your questions are answered and all of your needs are addressed.

What does an anesthesiologist do?

Anesthesiologists at Vulcan Anesthesia® will either personally, or work in a care team to, provide every aspect of your anesthesia care. A common misconception is that anesthesia involves merely giving patients medication. This is not the case. Along with administering and tailoring your anesthetic medications for your comfort and safety throughout your entire procedure, your anesthesiologist also continuously monitors and manages your vital functions to ensure your safety and full recovery for your surgical procedure. Your anesthesiologist will optimize your critical body functions during the surgery, such as breathing, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, body temperature, fluid balance, and blood replacement. Your anesthesiologist acts quickly to diagnose and provide treatment for problems that may arise or changes to your vital functions during your surgery or procedure in order to prevent complications. Your anesthesiologist’s only job is to take care of you while your surgeon concentrates on your surgery or procedure.

How safe is anesthesia?

Through rigorous research, education, and training, physician anesthesiologists have made significant advances in the field of anesthesiology over the last several decades. Today’s anesthetics are much safer and have fewer side effects than those used in the past. With current technologies, advances in medications and monitors, and the demanding training that is required to become an anesthesiologist, anesthesia has an excellent safety profile. But, as with many things in our daily life, there is always some risk involved. The risks depend on your medical history and the planned operation.

Your anesthesiologists will thoroughly review your medical history, examine you and address any specific concerns you may have. They will then formulate an anesthetic plan that is tailored to you, your needs, and your specific surgical needs. Your anesthesiologist will explain any risks specific to you or your surgery.

Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is provided in three main categories: local, regional, and general.

With local anesthesia, an anesthetic drug is given to you which numbs only a small and specific area of the body. With local anesthesia, a person may be awake or sedated, depending on what is needed. Local anesthesia lasts for a short period of time and is often used for minor procedures.
With regional anesthesia, an anesthetic drug is injected near a cluster of nerves, which causes a larger area of the body (such as below the waist, like epidurals given to women in labor) to become numb and insensitive to pain. Regional anesthesia is generally used to make a person more comfortable during and after the surgical procedure. In some cases, regional anesthesia may be provided alone to make you comfortable throughout the entire surgery or procedure. Regional anesthesia lasts for a longer period of time. When regional anesthesia is used as the primary anesthesia for you, you may be awake or sedated, depending on what is needed. In other cases, regional and general anesthesia are often combined.
With general anesthesia, the goal is to make and keep a person completely unconscious (or “asleep”) during the operation or procedure. Under general anesthesia you are not awake or aware during the surgery and will have no memory of the surgery. General anesthesia can be given through an IV (which requires sticking a needle into a vein, usually in the arm) or by inhaling gases or vapors by breathing from a mask.

As perioperative physicians, your anesthesiologist is responsible for your safety and well-being before, during and after your surgery or procedure.