Under the Mask A Guide to Feeling Secure and Comfortable During Anesthesia and Surgery

Every year, about forty million Americans require surgery. Yet few truly understand what happens to them during the procedure--especially what the anesthesiologist does to ensure their survival & well being. An anesthesiologist disarms your entire nervous system with the most effective drugs for your body chemistry; keeps you alive while you're subjected to manipulations that would otherwise kill you; & ensures your safe return to consciousness. By controlling postsurgical pain, this physician profoundly affects the speed of your recovery. Yet despite their crucial role, anesthesiologists are often the unseen doctors. Under the Mask demystifies the surgical process by providing patients with detailed information that will make them better-informed consumers. Part 1 describes the development & current scope of anesthesiology, the medications & techniques used, & the role of the anesthesiologist both in & outside the operating room. It explains a patient's rights & advises how to use the preoperative consultation with the anesthesiologist to best effect, specifying what information to provide & what questions to ask. Part 2 details the most common surgical & diagnostic procedures requiring anesthesia or conscious sedation. It explains each procedure, the issues it raises for anesthesia, the possible risks, the information to give the anesthesiologist, the questions to ask, & the choices to make if there is more than one option. It also covers the anesthesiologist's crucial role in controlling pain caused by chronic conditions. Looking toward the future of anesthesia & analgesia, the last chapter describes the newest anesthetic & pain control techniques available, & some still in an experimental stage. The book also discusses the new, expanded roles of anesthesiology within managed care. For all the conditions covered, it describes what to expect, what to do if you aren't getting what you need, and, depending on the seriousness of your condition, how far you should go to get it. Knowledgeable patients who make informed decisions regarding surgical anesthesia & subsequent pain control feel less anxious & stressed, a change that in itself can significantly expedite recovery.Cottrell, James E. is the author of 'Under the Mask A Guide to Feeling Secure and Comfortable During Anesthesia and Surgery', published 2001 under ISBN 9780813528786 and ISBN 081352878X.