The physicians of Anesthesia Consultants of New Jersey want you to feel safe and comfortable during your surgical procedure. It is important to follow your pre-operative instructions regardless of your type of surgery.
Deciding on an Anesthetic
Prior to surgery, we will discuss anesthetic options with you. Selection of appropriate anesthetic agents is dependent upon such factors as medication allergies, current health status, and prior anesthesia experiences.
Medical Conditions
Because anesthesia and surgery affect your entire system, it is important for your anesthesiologist to know as much about you as possible. It is important to know exactly what medical problems you have and any medications you have been taking recently, since they may affect your response to the anesthesia. You should inform your anesthesiologist about your allergies, any hard drug or alcohol usage, and past anesthetic experience.
This important knowledge will allow your physician to continue your current medical management into surgery, which will help prevent complications and expedite diagnosis and treatment of any medical problems, should they occur. Your continued medical management during surgery is necessary to help facilitate your speedy recovery.
It is important to remember that all personal information is kept strictly confidential. Our only interest is in learning enough about you and your health to provide you with safe, superb care.
Food and Drink
As a general rule, you should not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your procedure. An empty stomach greatly reduces the chance of regurgitating any undigested food or liquid during or after your procedure.
Please follow your doctor's instructions regarding pre-operative fasting, as doing so will affect your post-procedure comfort and recovery. Additionally, during your fasting time, you may be instructed to take certain medications with a little water. For your own safety, it is important that you follow your doctor's instructions carefully about fasting and medications; if not, it may be necessary to postpone your surgery.
Medication and Dietary Supplements
Unless otherwise instructed by your physician or an anesthesiologist, do not interrupt medications. Although there is no clear proof, recent research studies indicate that certain herbal medicines may prolong the effects of anesthesia, while some others may increase the risk of bleeding or raise blood pressure. It is very important to tell your doctor about everything you take before surgery.
Alcohol and Smoking
Cigarettes and alcohol affect your body just as strongly as, and sometimes more than, any of the medically prescribed drugs you may be taking. Because of their various effects on your lungs, heart, liver and blood, to name a few, cigarette and alcohol consumption can change the way an anesthetic drug will work during surgery. It is crucial to let your anesthesiologist know about your consumption of these substances. This is also true for so-called street drugs – marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and other illicit drugs.