Surgery and anesthesia: Making it safer
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY UPLOADED ON JANUARY 2016. THIS IS A REUPLOAD OF THE SAME ARTICLE FROM THE PREVIOUS WEBSITE OF THIS WEBSITE. Anesthesia today is safer than ever. But try telling that to a nervous parent of a 5-year-old about to have surgery, or to a patient in his 70s in poor health. Talking to your surgeon and anesthesiologist before surgery is an important step in making sure your experience is as safe and comfortable as possible — regardless of your age. But for children and older adults, that conversation is especially important. Dr. Daniel J. Cole, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, has tips for patients of all ages . “Most people don’t know that before their surgery they can and should talk with their anesthesiologist about their concerns and about their health and health habits,” Dr. Cole says. “This is especially true for parents of young children who may be worried about how anesthesia could affect the child, and for older...
