Centers of Excellence

Your anesthesia at St. Alexius will be administered by a team of anesthesiologists (MD’s) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA’s).

While the Anesthesia Care Team administers your anesthetic, they will monitor you the entire time you are in the operating room. The team uses a number of sophisticated medical instruments to measure and document how your body responds to the surgery and the anesthetic. Monitoring usually includes heart, breathing and blood pressure monitors. Additional monitoring is used based on your individuals needs.

Types of Anesthesia
Decisions regarding your anesthesia are tailored specifically for you. The type of anesthesia you receive depends on your general health, the type of surgical procedure and your preference when possible.

There are three types of anesthesia that can be used by the Anesthesia Care Team:

• General Anesthesia: anesthesia that puts the entire body to sleep
• Regional Anesthesia: involves numbing particular regions of the body. Other IV medication may be given to make you drowsy.
• Monitored Anesthesia: may involve injections of a small area with a local anesthetic as well as the use of IV medication to make you drowsy.

The anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will review your health history and your physical exam results to determine the risks and benefits associated with the different anesthetic options. You and your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will determine the type of anesthesia that will be best suited for you