Anesthesia and Surgery-Who is the Other Doctor in the Room?

When preparing for surgery many people do research, making sure they found a truly great surgeon. Most people forget about the other doctor (or a nurse!) in the room-the anesthesia provider. Anesthesia is critical to a great surgical outcome. Without a top-notch anesthesiologist or CRNA, a routine surgery can become an experience the patient would like to forget.

To avoid problems, make sure you have a "pre-anesthesia conference", a conversation with the anesthesia provider where you discuss the type of anesthesia you will receive, your medical history and any other pertinent information.

Learn about the Risks of Anesthesia, which are not the same as the general Risks of Surgery, before you decide to have surgery.