Five Questions To Ask Before Surgery
-By David Rosen, MD, President of Midwest Anesthesia Partners
The Baby Boomers are causing a boom in surgeries. Although Boomers have higher life expectancy than their parents’ generation, they are unhealthier. “The Status of Baby Boomers’ Health in the United States”, a study published last year in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that Boomers have “higher rates of chronic disease, more disability, and lower self-rated health than members of the previous generation at the same age.”
Longer lives combined with poor health is a recipe for a lot of surgeries and higher risks, which means that asking the right questions is crucial. If you are a Boomer and have to go under the knife, I recommend asking your anesthesiologist or surgeon the following questions:1.
1. What type of anesthesia is planned?
General anesthesia is extremely common, but it’s not the only option. Nerve blocks are becoming much easier to administer thanks to the widespread use of ultrasound, and their side effects are generally less. Although your surgeon and anesthesiologist probably have a preference, you won’t know if you have other options unless you ask.
2. Who will administer the anesthetic?
MD Anesthesiologists don’t necessarily administer the anesthetic. In the U.S., certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) administer 65% of all anesthetics and 85% in rural hospitals according to the North Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists. At teaching hospitals, residents are very likely to administer anesthetics. If you have health issues that make surgery riskier (e.g. diabetes, a recent heart attack), you need to ensure that an anesthesiologist is involved.
3.How often do you do this kind of procedure?
Don’t be afraid to ask your anesthesiologists (or any doctor) questions about their experience. If you’re getting an epidural for hip surgery, ask how many times the anesthesiologist has performed an epidural for your procedure. If you have health complications – perhaps a chronic heart condition – ask if the anesthesiologist has experience dealing with patients like yourself. The anesthesiologist should be happy to answer.
4. What type of side effects and recovery should I expect?
If you ask, “How will I feel tomorrow?” and get an alarming answer, see what the anesthesiologist can do to lessen the effects. If you know you get nauseous easily, perhaps you can get a lower dosage of general anesthesia or receive stronger anti-nausea medication pre-op, intra-op and post-op. Keep in mind that elderly patients can experience a cognitive deficit for months following general anesthesia.
5.What are my risks for surgery?
The better your physical health, the less risks you face. Poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure and history of cardiac issues raise the risk of complications. Sometimes surgery can and should be delayed to let you ‘tune up’ your health.
Surgery is a much less stressful experience when your questions, concerns and fears are all addressed. A good surgeon or anesthesiologist should be more than happy to talk about your procedure and present options if the operation permits them. When it comes to your health, never be afraid to speak up and ask questions.
Five Questions To Ask Before Surgery
Category: Blog
