BETA Development version - educational purposes only. Legal info
For Patients

Everything you need before
your surgery

Select your procedure, understand your anesthesia options, learn how to prepare, and know what to ask your doctor. Written by a specialist anesthesiologist.

Step 1

Select your procedure

Click your procedure to read the complete anesthesia guide written for your surgery.

C-Section & Childbirth Anesthesia

Anesthesia for childbirth is one of the most carefully planned in medicine.

Important: This is educational information only. Your anesthesiologist decides the appropriate technique based on your complete medical history and clinical situation on the day.

Anesthesia options

  • Spinal - most common for planned C-section. Single injection, works fast, you stay awake
  • Epidural - common for labor, can be extended for C-section
  • Combined spinal-epidural - when both effect and duration are needed
  • General - used in emergencies or when regional is not possible

Tell your anesthesiologist

  • All medications including blood thinners (apixaban, aspirin, heparin)
  • Previous back surgery or spinal problems
  • Bleeding or clotting disorders
  • Previous reactions to anesthesia
  • Allergies to any medications
  • Exactly when you last ate and drank

What to expect

  • For spinal - you feel pressure but no pain from waist down
  • You stay awake and can hear your baby
  • Your partner can usually be present
  • Anesthesiologist stays with you the entire time
  • Recovery from spinal takes 2-3 hours

Fasting guidelines

  • Planned C-section - no solid food 6 hours before
  • Clear liquids - stop 2 hours before
  • Emergency - tell team exactly when you last ate
  • These rules protect your airway - follow strictly

Orthopedic Surgery Anesthesia

Knee, hip, shoulder, and spinal procedures offer several anesthesia approaches.

Important: Blood thinners, heart conditions, and other factors significantly affect what is safe for you. Always disclose everything to your anesthesiologist.

Anesthesia options

  • General anesthesia - fully unconscious throughout
  • Spinal or epidural - lower body numb, you may be awake or sedated
  • Nerve blocks - targeted numbing of a specific limb
  • Combined - regional block plus sedation or light general

Critical information to share

  • Blood thinners - apixaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel
  • Heart stents or pacemakers
  • Previous spinal surgery or back problems
  • Diabetes and blood sugar control
  • Sleep apnea
  • Obesity - affects dosing and airway

What to expect

  • Pre-op assessment often happens days before surgery
  • You meet your anesthesiologist before the procedure
  • Nerve blocks provide excellent post-op pain control
  • Recovery room monitoring 1-2 hours minimum

Fasting

  • No solid food 6 hours before
  • No dairy or thick liquids 6 hours before
  • Clear water, black coffee - up to 2 hours before
  • Take medications with a small sip unless told otherwise

Dental & Oral Surgery Anesthesia

Dental procedures range from simple local anesthesia to full general anesthesia.

Important: Always tell your team about egg or soy allergy - relevant to certain sedation drugs like propofol.

Types used

  • Local - injection numbs the area, you stay fully awake
  • Conscious sedation - IV relaxation, you can still respond
  • Nitrous oxide - mild inhaled sedation, wears off quickly
  • General anesthesia - full unconsciousness for complex cases

Tell your team

  • Egg or soy allergy
  • Blood thinners or anticoagulants
  • Heart conditions or pacemaker
  • All current medications
  • Previous bad reactions to dental anesthesia
  • Anxiety level - options exist to help

What to expect

  • Local - feel pressure but no pain, starts quickly
  • Sedation - calm, may have little memory of procedure
  • General - wake up in recovery, feels instantaneous
  • Someone must drive you home after sedation or general

Fasting

  • Local only - no fasting needed
  • Sedation or general - no solid food 6 hours before
  • Clear liquids up to 2 hours before
  • Ask your team for specific instructions

ENT Surgery Anesthesia

Ear, nose, and throat procedures - airway sharing between surgeon and anesthesiologist is a key consideration.

Important: ENT surgery often involves working close to or inside the airway. Your anesthesiologist and surgeon coordinate closely. Be fully honest about all medications and history.

Anesthesia approach

  • Almost always general anesthesia
  • Airway management is shared with the surgeon - careful planning required
  • Throat packs commonly used to protect the airway
  • Laser procedures require special fire-resistant tubes
  • Local with sedation for minor ear procedures in some cases

Critical disclosures

  • Sleep apnea or snoring - very important for ENT cases
  • Previous airway or throat surgery
  • Limited mouth or neck movement
  • All medications especially blood thinners
  • Loose teeth or dental work
  • Any breathing problems or asthma

What to expect

  • Thorough airway assessment before surgery
  • You may wake with throat pack removed and throat slightly sore
  • Nausea and bleeding prevention are prioritized
  • Head positioning is carefully managed throughout
  • Recovery monitoring until fully awake and airway is stable

Fasting

  • No solid food 6 hours before
  • No thick liquids or dairy 6 hours before
  • Clear water up to 2 hours before
  • Follow strictly - ENT surgery near the airway makes aspiration especially dangerous

Plastic Surgery Anesthesia

Procedures vary enormously - from short local to long general anesthesia cases.

Important: Duration of surgery significantly affects planning. Long procedures carry more risk. Your anesthesiologist plans for temperature control, DVT, and pressure injuries.

Anesthesia options

  • Local - minor procedures only
  • Sedation - moderate procedures, breathing independently
  • General - most reconstructive and longer cosmetic procedures
  • Regional blocks - used to reduce post-op pain

Important disclosures

  • All supplements - vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo, garlic affect bleeding
  • Herbal medications - St John's Wort, ginseng
  • Smoking status - affects healing and anesthesia
  • Recreational substances including marijuana
  • Previous reactions to anesthesia or sedation

What to expect

  • Temperature management important in long procedures
  • Positioning carefully planned to avoid nerve injury
  • Post-op nausea prevention prioritized
  • Pain management planned before surgery

Fasting

  • No solid food 6 hours before any sedation or general
  • Clear liquids up to 2 hours before
  • No alcohol 24 hours before
  • Stop smoking as far in advance as possible

Oncogynecology Surgery Anesthesia

Surgery for gynecological cancers is often complex. Your anesthesiologist works as part of the full oncology team.

Important: Chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery can significantly affect anesthesia response. Always disclose your full cancer treatment history.

Anesthesia approach

  • General anesthesia for most procedures
  • Epidural often added for post-op pain control
  • ERAS protocols used in leading centers
  • Goal-directed fluid management throughout

Critical disclosures

  • All chemotherapy drugs and when last treatment was
  • Radiation to chest - affects lung and heart function
  • Corticosteroid use
  • Blood count results - anemia affects planning
  • Current anticoagulation therapy
  • Nutritional status

What to expect

  • Thorough pre-op assessment including cardiac and respiratory tests
  • Bladder catheter and temperature monitoring for longer cases
  • ICU admission possible after major surgery
  • Multi-modal pain management planned before surgery

Fasting

  • No solid food 6 hours before
  • ERAS protocols may allow special drinks - only if specifically instructed
  • Blood thinners require specific instructions - never stop without guidance

Urology Surgery Anesthesia

Urological procedures range from short endoscopic cases to major kidney and prostate surgery.

Important: Many urology patients have heart or kidney disease. This significantly affects anesthesia choice and drug dosing.

Anesthesia options

  • Spinal - preferred for many endoscopic procedures and TURP
  • General - used for longer or more complex cases
  • Regional blocks - for post-op pain after major kidney surgery
  • Local with sedation - for minor cystoscopy in some patients

Critical disclosures

  • Kidney function - affects drug elimination
  • Prostate medications - alpha-blockers affect blood pressure
  • Blood thinners - especially important for spinal planning
  • Heart conditions including stents and pacemakers
  • Diabetes
  • Previous pelvic surgery or radiation

What to expect

  • Spinal - you may be awake during the procedure
  • TURP syndrome monitoring throughout
  • Lithotomy position used in many cases
  • Recovery depends on procedure duration and complexity

Fasting

  • No solid food 6 hours before
  • Clear liquids up to 2 hours before
  • Ask your team about prostate medications on the morning
  • Blood pressure medications usually continue

General Surgery Guidance

For procedures not listed above - this general guide applies to most surgical cases.

Important: This is general educational information. Your anesthesiologist will explain everything specific to your procedure. Always ask questions before going into the operating room.

Common anesthesia types

  • General anesthesia - fully unconscious, used for most major surgeries
  • Regional anesthesia - numbs a specific area, you stay awake or lightly sedated
  • Sedation - relaxed and drowsy but not fully unconscious
  • Local anesthesia - only the immediate area is numbed

Always tell your anesthesiologist

  • All medications, vitamins, and supplements with dosages
  • All known allergies including medications, foods, latex
  • Previous reactions to anesthesia - good or bad
  • Family history of problems with anesthesia
  • Smoking, alcohol, and recreational substance use
  • Sleep apnea, heart conditions, or breathing problems

What to expect

  • You will meet your anesthesiologist before the procedure
  • An IV line will be placed in your arm
  • Monitoring equipment tracks your vitals throughout
  • Your anesthesiologist is present for the entire procedure
  • Recovery room monitoring after surgery until you are stable

Fasting for any surgery

  • No solid food 6 hours before - this is a strict medical rule
  • No dairy or thick drinks 6 hours before
  • Clear water, black coffee, black tea - up to 2 hours before
  • No alcohol 24 hours before
  • When in doubt - ask your surgical team directly
Step 2

How to prepare for surgery

What every patient needs to know before any procedure.

💋 Medications

  • Write down every medication, vitamin, and supplement with dosages
  • Blood thinners need specific guidance - never stop without asking
  • Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen - often stopped 7 days before
  • Herbal supplements - stop 2 weeks before surgery
  • Diabetes medications - your doctor will give specific instructions

🍽 Fasting rules

  • No solid food 6 hours before surgery - this is a strict medical rule
  • No dairy or thick drinks 6 hours before
  • Plain water, black coffee, black tea - up to 2 hours before
  • No alcohol 24 hours before
  • Chewing gum counts as eating - stop 6 hours before

📜 Tell your doctor

  • All allergies - medications, foods, latex
  • Previous anesthesia experiences good and bad
  • Family history of problems with anesthesia
  • Smoking, alcohol, recreational substance use
  • Sleep apnea or loud snoring
  • Loose teeth, crowns, or implants
Step 3

Questions to ask your anesthesiologist

Print this and bring it to your appointment.

1
What type of anesthesia are you planning - and why is that the best choice for me?
2
Given my medical history and medications, are there specific risks I should know about?
3
Which medications should I take or stop - and exactly when?
4
What will I feel going under, and what will waking up be like?
5
What are the most likely side effects - nausea, confusion, pain?
6
Will you be in the room with me throughout the entire procedure?
7
What pain management plan is in place for after I wake up?
Step 4

Pre-surgery checklist

Check each item as you complete it.

One week before

The night before

Morning of surgery