Anesthesia & Surgery

What is anesthesia?

Anesthesia is the loss of sensation and/or consciousness by the use of medications and close monitoring. It provides comfort and maintains vital life functions during surgery and other medical procedures.

Anesthesia is used to relax (sedate) you, block pain sensations (analgesia and anesthesia), induce sleepiness and forgetfulness (amnesia) or make you unconscious for your surgery. At The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, the anesthesiology team will choose the best option for your individual procedure and will be based on your physical condition in collaboration with your surgeon. According to a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine, anesthesia care today is nearly 50 times safer than it was 20 years ago.

  • Local

  • Regional

  • Conscious Sedation

  • Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)

  • General Anesthesia

Preparing for anesthesia

A nurse from the Center will review your history provided within your online registration. Any pre-op testing will be requested and the results will be evaluated by our anesthesia team. Our nursing staff will then contact you with a list of instructions specific to your needs and will answer any questions you may have. Based on your surgeon’s recommendations, you will be advised not to eat or drink for a certain length of time before surgery. If you take any regular medications, you will be advised whether you should take the medication on the day before or on the day of your surgery.

Who administers anesthesia?

Our staff of anesthesia providers is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The anesthesia care team performing services to our pediatric patients has received specific training in administering pediatric anesthesia.  The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery’s anesthesia provider stays with you for the entire procedure, constantly monitoring every important function of your body and individually modifying your anesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort.

Our Anesthesia Team

The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery is happy to partner with Anesthesia Management Solutions.

Anesthesia Management Solutions

Anesthesia Management Solutions

Anesthesia Management Solutions utilizes the following cutting-edge products:

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Philips Lumify portable ultrasound

ENHANCED RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY (ERAS)
HYDRATION PROTOCOL

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Exparel – Opioid Free

Recovering from anesthesia

Immediately after surgery, you will be taken to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), often called the recovery room, where nurses will observe and assist in your immediate recovery. A nurse will check your vital signs and bandages and ask about your discomfort level. Some effects of anesthesia may persist for many hours after the procedure. You may have some numbness or reduced sensation in the part of your body that was anesthetized with local or regional anesthesia.

  • A responsible adult must drive you home and remain with you until the effects of anesthesia have subsided, usually within 24 hours.

  • You will remain sleepy so plan to rest. In most cases you can resume activity in a few days.

  • Plan a light meal for after your surgery, such as soup and saltines. You will start with liquids at the surgical center.

  • You may receive a prescription for medication to relieve incisional discomfort. Take any medication with a light snack.

  • Follow the instructions provided by your surgeon. These will be reviewed with you and your caregiver by your nurse at the surgical center.

  • A member of our nursing staff will call you after your surgery to review your progress, but you may contact your surgeon’s office for any major concerns prior to this call.

Other common side effects of anesthesia

Occasionally patients may experience some nausea and vomiting. In most cases, nausea after anesthesia can be treated and does not last long. If you continue to experience nausea and vomiting, contact your physician. Another common side effect is a mild drop in body temperature (hypothermia). You may feel cold and shiver when you are waking up. This is temporary and should go away within a few hours.