Anesthesiology clinic

At MD medicina, you will meet with an anesthesiologist a few days before the surgery in the pre-operative anesthesia clinic. Along with the invitation to the anesthesia examination, you will also receive all the necessary instructions for your personal doctor, which tests you need before the surgery or anesthesia, depending on your age, concomitant diseases and the type of surgery. You will then bring the results of the aforementioned tests with you to the anesthesia examination.

We will send you a questionnaire to help you prepare more easily for the examination and consultation. For safe anesthesia, the anesthesiologist must be informed about your general health condition as well as any past and current accompanying illnesses (asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure, diabetes, various neurological diseases, heart, kidney, liver diseases, etc.). They must also obtain information about allergies and lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, etc.). It is very important that you bring to the anesthesiology consultation a list of all the medications you take regularly (including the names of the medications, dosages, and method of administration).

During the consultation, the anesthesiologist will give you precise instructions regarding the use of medications up until the surgery and also on the day of the procedure. Certain medications must be discontinued before the operation (for example, some blood-thinning medications).

The anesthesiologist will also ask you about any previous surgeries or anesthesia experiences, particularly regarding any complications or adverse effects (such as nausea, vomiting, waking up during surgery, or breathing difficulties after the procedure). We also kindly ask you to bring to your anesthesiology consultation the results of any examinations and reports from other specialists that you may have at home (for example, echocardiogram, carotid artery ultrasound, cardiologist’s report, neurologist’s report, or records from an anticoagulation clinic). 

Once the anesthesiologist has discussed your medical history with you and reviewed all the reports you bring to the consultation (such as laboratory results, ECG, chest X-ray, etc.), they will also perform a clinical examination. This will include listening to your heart and lungs, measuring your blood pressure, and assessing your oral cavity and neck mobility.

After the discussion and examination, the anesthesiologist will, based on your medical condition and the type of surgical procedure, recommend and explain the type of anesthesia most suitable for you. You will be able to participate in the decision-making process, and your preferences will be taken into account, provided they do not conflict with medical guidelines. Following the discussion, the anesthesiologist will ask you to sign a written consent for anesthesia. For minors and individuals with a legal guardian, the consent must be signed by a parent or guardian. The anesthesia consent form will also be sent to your home before the anesthesiology consultation, along with the appointment invitation, so that you can read it in peace and have the opportunity during the consultation to receive answers and clarifications to any questions regarding anesthesia and potential complications. The consent form for anesthesia also lists possible complications for both general and regional anesthesia.

Sometimes, during the preoperative examination, the anesthesiologist may identify certain abnormalities
or specific conditions in the patient
that could significantly affect the course of anesthesia and potentially lead to complications. In such cases, the surgery must be postponed until specific diagnostic procedures are completed and the medical issue is resolved. (For example, if the anesthesiologist hears a heart murmur, they may request an echocardiogram and a cardiologist’s report before surgery, as the patient may have a valvular heart condition that requires anesthesia adjustments.) It may also be necessary to correct laboratory findings (such as anemia, low potassium levels) or stabilize blood pressure. In such cases, the anesthesiologist will recommend that the patient’s primary care physician prescribe the necessary treatment. For anesthesia to proceed safely, it is essential that the patient be in the best possible condition.

Before minor outpatient procedures, the anesthesiologist may, in exceptional cases, examine patients without comorbidities and speak with them directly prior to the surgery.