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Linn
County Anesthesiologists, P.C. and LCA, P.L.C. provide
anesthesia care at three area locations: Mercy Medical
Center, St. Luke's Hospital, and Surgery Center Cedar
Rapids. As you prepare to undergo surgery, we want
you to have all the information you require to be
comfortable and informed regarding your procedure.
Your
doctors will instruct you very thoroughly, but please
also take the time to carefully read the
portions of
this website that pertain to you. As an informed
patient, you can have as much influence
as we do to
ensure that you experience a safe procedure and a
compete and comfortable recovery.
We
are committed to working hard to earn your confidence
and trust by providing you and your
family the highest
quality care. If you need more information, check
our frequently asked questions
or contact us.
We
are a separate entity from the hospitals and our
services will be billed separately. Please feel
free to call our business office with any questions you
may have regarding your insurance coverage for
anesthesia services.
Links:
Frequently Asked Questions
Courtesy of
the American Society of Anesthesiologists, below
are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that patients
have asked their anesthesiologist about receiving
anesthesia and avoiding risks. Always consult your
doctor about any questions or concerns you may have
regarding medical treatment. The links provided will
take you to additional resources. This information
should not be used as a substitute for professional
medical advice
Excerpt
from the "Anesthesia and You" section of the ASA Web site
www.asahq.org/patientEducation/anesandyou.htm
Q: Are there different
kinds of anesthesia?
A: There are three main categories of anesthesia:
local, regional, and general. Each has many forms and
uses.
In local anesthesia,
the anesthetic drug is usually injected into the tissue
to numb just the specific location of your body
requiring minor surgery, for example, on the hand or
foot.
In regional anesthesia,
your anesthesiologist makes an injection near a cluster
of nerves to numb the area of your body that requires
surgery. You may remain awake, or you may be given a
sedative. You do not see or feel the actual surgery take
place. There are several kinds of regional anesthesia.
Two of the most frequently used are spinal anesthesia
and epidural anesthesia, which are produced by
injections made with great exactness in the appropriate
areas of the back. They are frequently preferred for
childbirth and prostate surgery.
In general anesthesia,
you are unconscious and have no awareness or other
sensations. There are a number of general anesthetic
drugs. Some are gases or vapors inhaled through a
breathing mask or tube and others are medications
introduced through a vein. During anesthesia, you are
carefully monitored, controlled and treated by your
anesthesiologist, who uses sophisticated equipment to
track all your major bodily functions. A breathing tube
may be inserted through your mouth and frequently into
the windpipe to maintain proper breathing during this
period. The length and level of anesthesia is calculated
and constantly adjusted with great precision. At the
conclusion of surgery, your anesthesiologist will
reverse the process and you will regain awareness in the
recovery room.
Q: What are the risks of
anesthesia?
A: All operations
and all anesthesia have some risks, and they are
dependent upon many factors including the type of
surgery and the medical condition of the patient.
Fortunately, adverse events are very rare. Your
anesthesiologist takes precautions to prevent an
accident from occurring just as you do when driving a
car or crossing the street.
The specific risks of
anesthesia vary with the particular procedure and the
condition of the patient. You should ask your
anesthesiologist about any risks that may be associated
with your anesthesia.
Excerpt from the "Anesthesia for
Ambulatory Surgery" brochure
www.asahq.org/patientEducation/ambulatoryAnes.pdf
Q: What about eating or
drinking before my anesthesia?
A: As a general
rule, you should not eat or drink anything after
midnight before your surgery. Under some circumstances,
you may be given permission by your anesthesiologist to
drink clear liquids up to a few hours before your
anesthesia.
Q: Should I take my
usual medicines?
A: Some medications
should be taken and others should not. It is important
to discuss this with your anesthesiologist. Do not
interrupt medications unless your anesthesiologist or
surgeon recommends it.
Excerpt from the "Herbal and
Dietary Supplement" brochure
www.asahq.org/patientEducation/herbPatient.pdf
Q: Could herbal
medicines and other dietary supplements affect my
anesthesia if I need surgery?
A: Anesthesiologists
are conducting research to determine exactly how certain
herbs and dietary supplements interact with certain
anesthetics. They are finding that certain herbal
medicines may prolong the effects of anesthesia. Others
may increase the risks of bleeding or raise blood
pressure. Some effects may be subtle and less critical,
but for anesthesiologists anticipating a possible
reaction is better than reacting to an unexpected
condition. So it is very important to tell your doctor
about everything you take before surgery.
Excerpt from the "Planning Your
Childbirth" brochure
www.asahq.org/patientEducation/childbirth.pdf
Q: How is the epidural
block performed for labor and delivery?
A: An epidural block
is given in the lower back. You will either be sitting
up or lying on your side. The block is administered
below the level of the spinal cord. The anesthesiologist
will use a local anesthesia to numb an area of your
lower back. A special needle is placed in the epidural
space just outside the spinal sac.
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