Thursday, July 17, 2008
- Erik Nuveen
Many patients have concerns about the anesthetic portion of the surgery. Every patients should take comfort in knowing that every anesthetic is supervised by Dr. Nuveen , who is fully trained, educated and insured to provide all levels of anesthesia.
This is extremely unusual and should provide each patient with greater security and piece of mind. We are never, however, the only care provider doing both the surgery and the anesthetic. These duties are delegated to either an M.D./ D.O. anesthesiologist, C.R.N.A. (nurse anesthetist) or an anesthesia assistant. The determination of which one of these individuals is providing the anesthesia is determined by availability, the level of complexity of the surgery and the patient's past medical history.
The options for anesthesia include local numbing medication (like a dentist might use), intravenous sedation, inhalational anesthesia or general anesthesia. All levels of anesthesia are carefully considered before each surgery and discussed with each patient. There are risks and complications and alternatives and the recommendation for a type of anesthesia used in your case are made with these considerations in mind.
Most patients today elect not to have a breathing tube placed into the throat, they do not choose to be placed on a breathing machine or ventilator. This reduces risk significantly and allow patients the benefit of breathing on their own throughout the surgery. There is complete amnesia or loss of memory of any portion of the procedure has occurred in 100% of the last 9,000 cases. Although this cannot be guaranteed, we can give great confidence with these statistics. If a person were to have a memory, it would not be unpleasant and painless due to the numbing medication.