Personal Guidance to Anesthesia

Anesthesiologists at Greenwich Hospital play a key role in your surgical medical care. This includes evaluating you before surgery, providing pain control and supporting life functions during surgery, supervising your care after surgery and discharging you from the recovery unit.

Preoperative Interview

Prior to surgery, the anesthesiologist will interview you to evaluate your medical condition and come up with  an anesthesia plan that takes your physical condition into account. It is important that the anesthesiologist know as much about your medical history, lifestyle, and medications as possible.  

This information should include:

• Any known medical conditions
• Reactions to previous anesthetics
• Any known allergies
• Current herbal supplements
• Recent and/or current prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Cigarette smoking and drinking
• Use of street drugs (such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, etc.)

During the interview the anesthesiologist will discuss what you can expect during surgery, and anesthesia options.

Surgical Care

The anesthesiologist is responsible for your comfort and well-being during surgical procedures. In the operating room, the anesthesiologist directs anesthesia care and manages your vital functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm, body temperature and breathing. The anesthesiologist also is responsible for fluid and blood replacement, when necessary.

Care After Surgery

The anesthesiologist’s role extends beyond the operating room and recovery room. The anesthesiologist is responsible for your care in the recovery room, monitoring your vital signs as the effects of the anesthesia wear off. The anesthesiologist will determine when you can leave the recovery room.

Our anesthesiologists also work in intensive-care units to help restore critically ill patients to stable condition.