What We Do

We spend the majority of our time getting patients through surgery safely and comfortably. To do this well, we:

• evaluate the patient's health status in as much depth as necessary, including ordering testing that may be indicated,
• select the most appropriate anesthetic techniques and drugs,
• administer the anesthetics directly,
• monitor the patient constantly throughout the procedure,
• support or control breathing,
• correct any physiologic changes as needed ­ control blood pressure, pulse, temperature,
• give all types of fluids and transfusions,
• give all the in-OR drugs such as antibiotics, blood thinners, etc., that might be needed,
• continuously adjust the anesthetic depth as indicated by the patient's response,
• manage and direct resuscitation in the very ill,
• wake the patient up smoothly and comfortably,
• direct the Recovery Room phase in all aspects.

Additionally, anesthesiologists generally have the best tools for dealing with pain. In the acute post-operative setting we often assume the lead in treating surgical pain through one of many specialized techniques.

Many of these same techniques are very helpful in treating patients suffering from chronic pain, be it from cancer or one of the "benign" pain syndromes. We have anesthesiologists at our sites who are committed to this complex subspecialty.