Pre-operative activities

Your medical and surgical history is reviewed and/or taken prior to surgery. Lab tests, EKG, chest x-ray, as well as a physical examination are performed. The anesthesia care team reviews these and an anesthesia care plan is developed for the anticipated surgical procedure.

The anesthesia plan and possible complications are discussed with you and any and all questions are answered. An intravenous solution is started by administrating a local anesthetic in your skin to make it numb prior to the insertion of the IV catheter. The stick should be fairly if not completely painless.

After all the permits and consents are signed you will be given a pre-medication. Some of these pre-medications may provide mild amnesia, and some people do not remember going to the operating room…if they do, they don't care. However, for safety reasons, patients are conscious until they are properly monitored in the operating room.