Our goal is to provide you with a safe, pleasant and effective anesthetic In order to do this it is imperative that we have your full cooperation and understanding of important instructions regarding your anesthesia. Please ask any questions concerning anesthesia for your surgery.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING YOUR ANESTHESIA

You will always be given local anesthesia for your surgery, but you may choose any of those listed below as a supplement. Each choice requires different preparation on your part, and for your safety it is important that you read and follow the instructions carefully. If you are unclear about anything, please ask your doctor.

For all surgery, please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Tops/shirts should have sleeves that are easily drawn up above the elbow. Females should remove nail polish before surgery, and apply as little makeup as possible.

LOCAL ANESTHESIA will produce a numb feeling in the area being operated on and a feeling of pressure during surgery. You will be awake and recall the surgery, but there should be no significant discomfort.

• Have a light meal a few hours prior to surgery.
• For more extensive procedures you may wish to have someone drive you home.
• Plan to rest for a few hours after surgery.

ORAL PREMEDICATION may be a supplement to local anesthesia and is medication taken by mouth to produce relaxation before and during your operation.

• Take the medication at the time directed before your surgery.
• Have a light meal a few hours prior to surgery unless you are also having intravenous or general anesthesia.
• It is not safe to drive after taking sedative drugs, and you MUST have someone drive you to and from surgery.
• Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Do not operate power tools, machinery, etc., for 24 hours after surgery.

NITROUS OXIDE is also known as "laughing gas." You will be relaxed and somewhat less aware of your surroundings, but will recall most of the surgical event. Nitrous oxide is generally used in conjunction with local anesthesia, but may also be used to supplement the anesthetic choices below.

• You may have a light meal four (4) hours prior to surgery.
• It is best to have someone drive you home.
• Plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA
Both of the anesthetics below include local anesthesia (although general anesthesia does not require its use.)

INTRAVENOUS SEDATION
Medications are given through a vein in your arm or hand, which will cause total relaxation and, although you will not actually be unconscious, there will be very little recall (if any) of the events surrounding surgery.

• Do not eat or drink anything (including water) for eight (8) hours prior to surgery. However, it is important that you take any regular medications (high blood pressure, antibiotics, etc.) or any pre-medication prescription that we have provided, using only a small sip of water.
• For morning appointments, skip breakfast.
• For afternoon appointments, eat a light breakfast six (6) hours before your appointment and skip lunch.
• Take any regular medications with only enough water to get the pill down.
• You MUST have someone drive you home.
• Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Do not operate power tools, machinery, etc., for 24 hours after surgery.

GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Medications are given through a vein which will result in total loss of consciousness, complete lack of recall of the event and usually a longer recovery time. General anesthesia has an excellent safety record as an office procedure, but may, if desired, be provided in a hospital setting. (Your health insurance may not cover you unless there is a bona fide medical reason for hospitalization.)

The same instructions offered above for intravenous sedation apply for general anesthesia.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
REGARDING YOUR ANESTHESIA

1. Do not eat/drink any solid food or dairy products for six (6) hours prior to your appointment. However, it is important that you take any regular medications (high blood pressure, antibiotics, etc.) or any pre-medication prescription that we have prescribed, with a small sip of water.
2. For afternoon appointments you may have clear liquids (water, sprite, tea, broth, jello) up to six (6) hours before your appointment. Six (6) hours before your appointment you MUST NOT take anything further by mouth.
3. You MUST have an adult accompany you to the appointment, wait for you during the procedure, and drive you home.
4. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Do not drive, operate power tools, machinery, etc., or make important decisions for at least 24 hours after surgery.
5. A responsible adult should be immediately available to assist you for at least four (4) hours after you return home.

OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

If you would like to listen to your music while you are being treated, feel free to bring your music device.

MOST COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS REGARDING ANESTHESIA:

 

OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
If you prefer to listen to your own music, feel free to bring a CD or cassette tape player with small earphones (not recommended with general anesthesia).

In addition to local anesthesia, your doctor may recommend or you may request an additional type of anesthetic. Each anesthetic option requires important preparation on your part. For your safety it is important that you read and follow the following instructions carefully. If you have any questions regarding this information, please ask your doctor.

For all surgery, please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Tops/shirts should have sleeves that are easily drawn up over the elbow. Females should apply as little makeup as possible.

LOCAL ANESTHESIA:
Will produce "numbness" or loss of sensation in the area of the operation. Depending on the type of local anesthetic administered, the "numbness" may persist for several hours. Do not attempt to chew any solid food until the feeling returns to normal. Rarely, local anesthetic injections can cause permanent injury to the nerves with alteration in sensation (numbness, tingling, burning, pain) in the tongue, lip, chin, and gum tissues.

NITROUS OXIDE GAS:
Also known as "laughing gas." You will be relaxed and somewhat less aware of your surroundings, but will recall most of the procedure. Nitrous oxide is always used in conjunction with local anesthesia.

• 1. You may have a light meal four (4) hours prior to surgery.
• 2. It is preferable to have someone drive you home.
• 3. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

INTRAVENOUS (I.V.) ANESTHESIA:
Includes I.V. conscious sedation and general anesthesia. I.V. anesthesia also includes local anesthesia.

INTRAVENOUS CONSCIOUS SEDATION:
Medications are given through a vein in your arm or hand, which will induce a state of profound relaxation. You may have some awareness of your surroundings and the procedure (voices and other sounds, manipulation of your mouth, etc.). Generally, I.V. conscious sedation is a pleasant experience. Although you will not be unconscious, there will be very little recall of the events surrounding surgery. I.V. conscious sedation is generally safer than general anesthesia because you will continue to breathe spontaneously and protect your airway. It is unusual that I.V. conscious sedation does not provide adequate sedation/relaxation. In the event that we do not feel that a patient is adequately sedated after receiving age and weight appropriate doses of sedation medications we may not proceed with the procedure and recommend that the procedure be re-scheduled in the operating room where a safe general anesthetic can be administered.