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Preparing for Surgery
Elective surgery begins with the scheduling of the procedure by the surgeon. The patient is then given an appointment for presurgical evaluation and testing, or "pretest."
There are two basic types of surgical patients and experiences: outpatient or "day surgery" and inpatient or "same day admission surgery." During the pretest appointment, a clinical nurse specialist and an anesthesiologist or nurse practitioner will discuss the type of surgery and expected postsurgical course with each patient.
The Pretest Appointment
At the pretest appointment, the patient will meet with a South Shore Anesthesia Associates anesthesiologist or nurse practitioner and a nurse specialist.
The goal of the pretest interview is threefold:
- review the patient's current medical history, past surgical and anesthetic history, and any medical tests.
- present and discuss appropriate anesthetic options and pain management options for controlling pain after surgery. He or she may also decide more information is warranted such as a medical summary, further testing (EKG, blood work), or further consultation with another specialist (a cardiologist, for example).
- present and discuss of the anesthetic risks, followed by the signing of the anesthesia consent form.