Anesthesiology

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Focused on patient safety and comfort

The anesthesiologists at Commonwealth Health provide anesthetic care for patients before, during and after surgery. Trained anesthesiologists, certified nurse anesthetists and anesthesiology assistants are focused on keeping you as safe and comfortable as possible throughout your care. Anesthesiology care professionals are trained to monitor all your vital signs during surgery and recovery, and provide customized care to meet the unique needs of each individual.

The anesthesiology care team has access to a wide range of anesthesiology medications. We provide a range of anesthesiology services for people of all ages, from local anesthesia during diagnostic procedures and outpatient surgery to advanced anesthetic care for complex procedures, including:

• General anesthesia. Using a combination of inhaled and intravenous medications, anesthesiologists can induce unconsciousness through general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist may also administer pain or anti-nausea medications to offer a more comfortable postoperative experience.
• Regional anesthesia. A regional anesthetic is used to numb the area of the body where the surgery will occur, such as an epidural during childbirth, spinal anesthesia or specific peripheral nerve blocks. Regional anesthesia allows the patient to remain awake during the procedure.
• Sedation. Medication can be used to induce calm or ease anxiety during an uncomfortable medical procedure.
• Obstetrical anesthesia. During childbirth, women have a range of options available to help manage pain. Because childbirth is different for each woman, anesthesiologists work closely with women and their obstetricians to develop a customized care plan.
• Pediatric anesthesia. We understand that surgery can be a stressful experience for children and parents, so anesthesiologists have expertise to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Care team members explain procedures to children in a way that’s easy to understand, and deliver gentle, compassionate care.
• Spinal anesthesia. This technique blocks pain signals along the spinal cord, and is often used for surgeries involving the lower abdomen, legs and feet, or during a C-section or prostate surgery. This procedure can be used with or without sedation.
• Postoperative pain management. We offer postoperative acute pain management services, including nerve block catheters or intravenous anesthetic medication to make patients as comfortable as possible following surgery.

Each patient receives a thorough preoperative screening to gather important health history information and develop a care plan that emphasizes safety and maximum comfort during and after surgery. Anesthesiology team members are focused on delivering exceptional care and assuring you know what to expect before, during and after your procedure.