Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Anesthesiology FAQ

Surgery Prep

Anesthesiology has proven to be one of the most valuable advancements in modern medicine. Through sedation, we can perform in-depth surgical procedures without causing pain or discomfort to our patients. There are many people who are, understandably, nervous about undergoing sedation. These answers to frequently asked questions can help you feel more confident as you prepare for an upcoming surgery.

Will the doctor tell me if I need anesthesia before administering it?

Before you even go in to the doctor’s office for surgery, you will most likely have a preliminary anesthesiology consultation. This is an important meeting where the anesthesiologist learns more about your medical history and determines how much sedative will be appropriate. Every person requires varying amounts of anesthesia, and not everyone can safely receive anesthesia. Details like these will be addressed during this meeting.

How is anesthesia administered?

There are several ways to administer anesthesia, and the exact method that is right for you will depend on the type of anesthesia being used. Typically, anesthesia is inhaled through a breathing mask or injected directly through an IV.

Will I be asleep during the operation?

This depends on the operation you will receive and the type of anesthesia used. In some cases, anesthesia is only used to numb the area that will be operated on. For more involved procedures, you may be put to sleep.

How will the doctor know if I’m okay if I’m asleep during an operation?

The preliminary meeting with the anesthesiologist should ensure your sedative is safely administered and that will not have an adverse reaction. As an added precaution, you will be connected to monitoring devices that keep your doctor up-to-date on your vital signs.

Is there anything that could interfere with the anesthesia?

Complications with anesthesia are very rare, but the most common cause is patient error. Your anesthesiologist or surgeon should provide you with detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do before receiving anesthesia. One of the most important things that almost all anesthesiology patients need to do is fast for several hours before their surgery. If your stomach is full of acid or food contents, it can regurgitate back into the esophagus or lungs, which can lead to serious health problems.




Patient Stories

  • “I can do everything I want to do—even on the dance floor, This hip surgery is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’d recommend Dr. Yoon to anyone.”

    Robert
    Read More
  • "I don’t know why I put it off. It was the best thing I ever did."

    Jim
    Read More
  • “People jumped through hoops for me. It just blew me away. They gave me my life back.”

    JoAnna
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
Short Hills Surgery Center
187 Millburn Avenue
Suite 102
Milburn, NJ 07041
(973) 671-0555
View
Hudson Crossing Surgery Center
2 Executive Drive
Suite 102
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
(201) 470-6977
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View

Surgery Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations