When is anesthesia needed?
Common surgeries and procedures which require anesthesia include:
- Bariatric surgery
- Ear, nose and throat surgery
- Endoscopic procedures
- General surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- Pediatric surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Podiatric surgery
- Thoracic surgery
- Urologic surgery
- Vascular surgery
Our experienced Optum anesthesiologists receive extensive training on all areas of anesthesiology to better understand your needs. They’ll consider every important factor—from age, weight, medical history, length and type of surgery—to pinpoint the best amount and type of medication for you.
Anesthesiologists provide comfort and safety during surgery and make informed medical judgments regarding critical life function. They also immediately diagnose and treat medical problems that may arise during surgery or recovery.
After your procedure, you will be taken to the recovery area where you will be monitored until it is safe to transfer to your hospital room or send you home.
Treatment options
Learn about the different types of anesthesia offered by Optum:
General anesthesia
General anesthesia is administered with a combination of inhaled and intravenous (though an IV) medications. The medications will be personalized based on your age, weight, medical conditions and the type of surgery.
Regional anesthesia
This group of anesthetics allows you to remain conscious during the procedure and isolates a particular area where pain needs to be managed. There are two types of regional anesthetics:
- Peripheral nerve blocks: Peripheral nerve blocks use an injection of anesthetic medications near a cluster of nerves. Peripheral nerve blocks only numb the area of your body that requires surgery, and last up to 24 hours.
- Neuraxial anesthesia (spinals and epidurals): Neuraxial anesthesia numbs you from your abdomen to your toes. An epidural is injected into the fatty tissue surrounding the nerve roots in the spine while a spinal is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the spinal cord.
Monitored anesthesia care
Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is a technique, which involves semi-conscious pain management through pain relievers and sedatives. The depth of sedation required varies depending on the invasiveness of the procedure, as well as your preference and medical issues.
Pediatric anesthesia
Medical procedures on a child can create anxiety for both the child and parent(s). Our pediatric anesthesiology team is specially trained to make your child’s experience completely safe and comfortable with a quick recovery.
We use the most advanced techniques, equipment and methods to tailor the anesthesia for each child based on medical conditions, developmental level and the type of procedure needed.
Medical care and help
At Optum, our anesthesiology team is experienced in providing the highest level of safety and comfort for a wide range of procedures and acute pain management.
To find an anesthesiologist near you, visit our Providers page.
Contact us if you have any questions about anesthesiology or finding the right specialist.