“Why do I need to meet the anesthesiologist before my surgery?”

Depends on the type and extent of surgery and your underlying conditions.

Some times we need more labs or test or consult according to your history. And should be on time before surgery

To explain to you the plan of anesthesia, to give the precautions, and to teach pre- and post-op what you have to do.

The Anesthesiologist is responsible for your well being during a surgical procedure. They will evaluate both your medical history and a review of your organ systems, body habitus and airway. Think of the Anesthesiologists as your “lifeguard” during the procedure.

Some centers require this to ensure you they have all your medical information before surgery. This helps prevent day of cancellations. The anesthesiologist May need you to get additional testing so that you can safely undergo anesthesia

Every anesthetic is custom made. We need to know your medical history and your medicines and allergies to help plan the perfect anesthetic. We also have to add to the equation what type of surgery you will be having, how long it will take, what are your surgeon's preferences, what you are like psychologically, and what your airway anatomy looks like; i.e will you be difficult to intubate. (are you obese, do you have a small mouth, do you have sleep apnea, previous experience with anesthesia, etc). It is also helpful so we can prepare you for what to expect before, during and after surgery, and to answer your questions and address any special needs you might have. Although the surgeon might address anesthesia with you, remember that your surgeon actually knows little about the anesthetic and can give you misinformation due to his lack of knowledge- this is why anesthesia is a separate medical specialty requiring and extra 3-4 years of training after med school. We also want to make sure that your medical conditions are optimized before you go to the hospital to improve your safety. We don't only put you to sleep and wake you up!! We are the internists in the surgical world, so are concerned with your overall health and safety.

It depends...there is either something in your medical history or you are having a high risk surgery. We gather information and order potential tests or referrals to optimize your health for the best surgical outcome.

While I am not sure what surgery you are having or other medical problems you may have if any, it is quite routine to have a meeting with the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist will review your general health, your past history if any with sedation, or anesthetic agents, the medications you are on if any, and general medical conditions. They usually also will perform a brief medical exam. After reviewing all the information they obtained they will review with you the general plan they have for the type of anesthetic that would be best suited for you based on the procedure planned, and your medical history. They will go over any concerns and answer any questions you may have about the anesthesia and how it will be provided, and recovery time. They will also go over any side effects, or complications that may be present, if any, for the anesthesia planned. During the visit they will address and answer any questions you have as well. This way you as the patient, and your anesthesiologist are both on the "same page", comfortable with the anesthetic plan, and have your questions or concerns answered so each of you are comfortable. I hope this answers your question

To get you prepared for the surgery and offer you options for the anesthetic. It also gives us a heads-up if you have any significant medical issues.