The anesthesiologist is the professional who will be applying the numbing process known as anesthesia to you when you are going to have surgery. Depending on the scope of the surgery and the decision made by your doctor, you might have a local anesthetic, where only a small portion of your body is numbed, a regional anesthetic, where a larger portion of your body is numbed, or a general anesthetic, where you are rendered entirely unconscious.

The anesthesiologist will be making contact with you at some point before your surgery. He or she might appear as much as two or three days before you are due for your procedure or you might not see them until the day of the surgery itself. They will introduce themselves to you, and they will answer any questions that you might have about the process. Essentially, their task is to ensure that you are healthy enough of the anesthetic that they are going to give you and to make sure that there are no extenuating circumstances that might interfere with the effectiveness of the procedure.

Some of the questions that the anesthesiologist might ask will relate to your current and your past health. They may ask if there are any conditions that you are currently being affected by or they may want to know about your family’s health. They may also want to know about the medications and supplements that you are taking. When you are speaking to the anesthesiologist, remember that you should be as detailed as possible. Some people bring along a list of all of the medications and supplements that you are taking, including the amounts.

The anesthesiologist will also likely ask you questions about your habits. Because these answers can affect the treatment that you are likely to receive, you should be honest with your answers. The anesthesiologist will want to know whether you smoke, drink or take any drugs that are not listed on your charts, so just be honest!

One important question that the anesthesiologist will ask you is whether anyone in your family has had an adverse reaction to an anesthetic. Your answer might change the procedure that the anesthesiologist wants to perform, so be as honest and as candid as you can be.

You have a right to the best care available, so make sure that you know what to expect when the anesthesiologist wants to speak with you! Contact us today to get started!