When you are having surgery, the surgeon is not the only specialist you will be treated by. During the surgery anesthesia is used. Apart from getting you to sleep during surgery, a Hyattsville anesthesiology specialist also ensures you are safe and comfortable before, during, and after surgery. When preparing for the surgery, it is essential to meet with your surgeon and resident anesthesiologists to assess your health for safe anesthesia care.
Anesthesia 101
An anesthesiologist specializes in developing anesthetic plans, perioperative care, and administration of anesthetics. Therefore, your anesthesiologist has the relevant knowledge to treat and understand the entire human body. Unlike other doctors, anesthesiology undergoes extra training over the usual medical course. An anesthesiologist goes through college, medical school, internship, and residency in anesthesia. Therefore, as a patient, you are guaranteed that you are in the right hands as your anesthetists will get you to sleep for the surgery and prepare you adequately.
Types Of Anesthesia That Anesthesiologists Provide
IV Sedation Or Monitored Anesthesia
The IV sedation causes you to feel relaxed during the procedure, and it has different levels of consciousness. The sedation level varies from minimal, when you are aware and able to talk to deep, when you will not remember the procedure. This type of anesthesia is sometimes combined with regional or local anesthesia. Your anesthesiologists, however, will administer this anesthesia depending on the procedure.
General Anesthesia
This is provided through an anesthesia IV or mask, designed to make you lose consciousness. It is used if you are going for a major operation, such as open-heart surgery.
Local Anesthesia
This type is anesthesia is an injection that focuses on the area where the procedure will be performed. Therefore, the injection only numbs a small portion, allowing you to remain awake and alert as the procedure is undertaken. However, the injection prevents you from experiencing pain.
Regional Anesthesia
Similar to local anesthesia, regional anesthesia is a pain medication that numbs a large area for the surgery. It is administered through a catheter or injection. This is often used during childbirth and for surgeries of the abdomen, leg, or arm. It allows you to remain awake during the procedure but unable to feel the numbed area.
Anesthesiologist Advantage
Your anesthesiologist plays a vital role before, during, and after the surgery. Therefore, as you choose your surgeon and go through personal research to find the best, you should ensure to have an anesthesiologist in mind as well. This can enhance your chances of being comfortable with the procedure with little fear of what may happen in the process. As you listen to your doctor’s guideline for the treatment, you also need to remember your anesthesiologist's opinion about the procedure. It is all about getting you comfortable and well. Contact your doctor at CHOICE Pain and Rehabilitation Center to learn more about an anesthesiologist's role in making your surgery a success.
