Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1398259
5 Section 1: Preparing for Your Surgery Information about Anesthesia What is anesthesia? Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine in which special drugs are used to cause your entire body – or part of your body – to be insensitive to pain. Anesthesia will enable you to tolerate a surgical or invasive medical procedure comfortably. Today's anesthesia practices allow a greater degree of safety and comfort than ever before, enabling a smooth start to your healing and recuperation. Who provides anesthesia? Anesthesia care at Providence is provided by specialty trained and board certified physician anesthesiologists. They are trained to provide all types of anesthesia and in the delivery of intensive care medicine. They are highly trained to anticipate and treat side effects of anesthesia and co-existing medical conditions. Consulting with your anesthesiologist On the day of your surgery, you will meet your anesthesiologist, who will review your medical record, clarify any questions about your medical history and perform, a physical evaluation. You will then have an opportunity to express your preferences, the plan of your care, and have any questions answered. Your anesthesiologist will review the advantages, disadvantages, and possible risks of your anesthetic. Please inform us if you have cultural, religious or personal reservations against receiving a blood transfusion. For additional information about anesthesia visit www.oagpc.com Eating/Drinking Instructions for Surgery DAY BEFORE SURGERY: • No solid food or dairy containing drinks (including gum, candy or mints) starting at 10:00 pm the night before surgery. • In some cases, your surgeon may require you to have a clear liquid diet on the day before surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery or if you were prescribed a bowel prep, please follow the instructions for clear liquid diet on day before surgery that you received from your surgeon). DAY OF SURGERY: • You may have clear liquids up until 2 hours before arrival at the hospital. If you are first surgery of the morning (5:30 am arrival) you may have your last clear liquid at 5:00 am. o Clear liquids that are allowed on day of surgery ▪ Water, pulp-free juice, clear soda ▪ Black coffee or tea without any milk or cream added ▪ Gatorade, G2, Powerade, Clear Fast, Ensure Pre-Surgery Clear Nutrition Drink (note that this is the only Ensure drink that is ok on surgery day, do not drink Ensure Clear or Ensure protein shakes on day of surgery ). o LIQUIDS that are NOT allowed on day of surgery ▪ NO dairy or non-dairy creamer or non-dairy milk products on day of surgery. DO not add cream or milk to your coffee.