29 September 2020 Author : Cristina Pestana The origin of the word anesthesia is Greek and means absence of sensation. When a patient has to have a surgery and as long as it is not an emergency, he must be subjected to a preoperative evaluation in an anesthesiology consultation. Anesthesiologist consultation During the consultation, the anesthesiologist observes the patient and the results of diagnostic tests, assessing the physical condition of the patient for the procedure. If necessary, the anesthesiologist requests more tests, an evaluation by other medical specialties, the most frequent being cardiology and / or pneumology and gives indications for the surgery. The anesthesiologist also gives instructions on the maintenance, interruption or replacement of the patient usual medication for the period before the surgery. When the procedure is simpler, for example, the removal of nevus or endoscopic gastroenterology exams, the evaluation can be done by filling out a questionnaire that the patient sends to the anesthesiologist who will evaluate and decide if the patient need to make an appointment. According to the surgery and the patient pathology, the anesthesiologist proposes an anesthesia that can be: Sedation; Locoregional anesthesia; General anesthesia; Combined techniques. The choice also takes into account other associated diseases that the patient may have, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma. During surgery In any of the techniques, the anesthesiologist monitors the anesthetic procedure in accordance with national and international recommendations, strictly complying with the monitoring, therapeutic rules and guidelines. Anesthesia lasts as long as the procedure requires. At the end of the surgery, the recovery phase follows, during which the patient, in most cases, is transferred to a post-anesthetic care unit or, if the situation requires, to an intermediate or intensive care unit. After surgery In addition to maintaining the patient safety and well-being during surgery, the anesthesiologist will also take care of the postoperative period, namely with regard to the treatment of acute pain after surgery. More about anesthesiology at Hospital da Luz . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
