Patient Information

As anesthesia providers, our goal is to ensure that you have an excellent anesthesia experience and outcome. We know this can be a very stressful moment in your life, therefore, we try to make the process as seamless as possible. Gaining your trust and putting you at ease by having you believe that you will be well cared for is our priority. The following information on what to expect during anesthesia should help alleviate any questions or concerns you may have.

Outpatient Pre-operative Information

Most elective surgeries are done on an outpatient basis. Outpatient surgery, also called “same day” or ambulatory surgery, occurs when you are expected to go home the same day as the surgery. Outpatient surgery is increasingly possible due to advances in sedation, pain management and surgical techniques. After the procedure, patients are monitored in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), or an outpatient postoperative care area. Patients typically stay until they can drink without nausea, urinate, or perform other tasks required by the surgeon.

Patients are not permitted to drive following such procedures and is recommended to have a friend or family member stay with them for twenty-four hours following the procedure. A nurse usually calls patients the next day for an update and to answer any questions they may have.

Clear liquids are allowed up until 3 hours before the procedure.

No solid food or milk after midnight prior to the procedure.

If your child has delayed gastric emptying please follow the instructions of your doctors office or contact Mountain West Anesthesia

No solid food should be taken after midnight prior to your surgery. Clear liquids may be taken up to 4 hours prior. These include water, apple juice, clear Jell-O, tea and coffee without milk.

Patients who have a higher risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents are only allowed medications with a small sip of water.

These patients include but are not limited to patients with:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Diabetes
Obesity
Difficulty Swallowing
Motility Dysfunction

Pediatric Patients

3-12 Years old

Adult Patients

13 Years old and Older

In addition to preparing for your surgery by attending to NPO guidelines, it is sometimes necessary to complete blood tests or studies. This will depend on your medical condition, the medications you take and the particular procedure you are having. Your surgeon's office will arrange for the tests, but please ensure that the results are forwarded for review, to the facility at which you will have your procedure. You may bring a copy of these test results with you.

COMMON TYPES OF ANESTHESIA

GENERAL ANESTHESIA

General anesthesia uses a combination of IV medications and inhaled gases that places you in an unconscious state prior to having a surgical or medical procedure performed. During this time, you are unaware of any painful stimuli or discomfort due to your decreased level of consciousness.

SEDATION ANESTHESIA

Sedation anesthesia is also known as monitored anesthesia care (MAC),this is what a majority of patients have referred to in the past as "twilight". Medications are given intravenously, which will make you feel drowsy and relaxed. Depending on the type of procedure you are having or your preference, different levels of sedation are available to you.

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA

Regional anesthesia is a technique that is utilized to only anesthetize a specific body part. Most common regional anesthesia techniques include spinals or epidurals that numb the lower half of the body. Other types of regional anesthesia, through the use of selective nerve blocks can anesthetize a specific body part, for example, the shoulder or the knee. Nerve blocks also play a crucial role in decreasing pain after surgery.