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South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists

Patient Education

We are here to answer any question you may have.

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Anesthesiologists are physicians who practice the medical specialty of anesthesiology.

As a physician, the anesthesiologist is your Anesthesia Care Team's leader and responsible for your anesthesia care from your preoperative evaluation, during your surgery, during your time in the recovery room and up until the anesthesiologist discharges you from the recovery room.

The anesthesiologist will prescribe and manage your post operative pain relief plan.

This physician specialist, the anesthesiologist, is the leader of a team of support staff that includes nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologist assistants and anesthesia techs, as well as RNs during the pain management period in the hospital.

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Patient Education FAQs

Sometime before the day of your surgery, you should speak with your anesthesiologist so he or she can gather information that will help determine the right anesthesia care plan for you. Be prepared to discuss your medical history, your health habits, and your past experiences with surgery and anesthesia.

It’s natural to fear surgery and anesthesia. If you’re afraid, tell your anesthesiologist. He or she can give you information to ease your mind and help you feel safe. Anesthesia is safer than ever, but surgery and anesthesia are not without risk. That’s why having an anesthesiologist in charge of your care in the operating room is so important.

The anesthesiologist continues to care for you after surgery, so ask about how any pain will be managed and any concerns you have about recovery, returning home, and getting back to your normal routine.

The anesthesiologist will either be handling your care by him/herself, or the anesthesiologist will be working with a support team of anesthetists. This anesthesia care team includes 1) the anesthesiologist, he or she is the physician in charge of your anesthesia care; 2) the anesthetist, this may be a nurse anesthetist (NA) or an anesthesiologist assistant (AA); 3) anesthesia techs. They handle the equipment and supplies for the anesthesiologist and the team.

Yes

It is the right of every pregnant woman to decide how she wants to deliver her baby. While most women today elect to have a labor epidural, it is by no means required. Should you change your mind during labor, your OB/GYN will call the anesthesiologist to evaluate you for an epidural. Sometimes, if you waited too long, you may not be able to get an epidural or it might not help as much as it would have had you gotten it earlier. Discuss this with your OB/GYN and the anesthesiologist before you go into labor.