Before Anesthesia in Long Island, Brookhaven, Babylon, Smithtown, NY, New York

Please read the entire booklet prior to your procedure. It contains answers to some frequently asked questions as well as instructions on how to take the medication and care for yourself.

It is best to call the office the day before your scheduled surgery to confirm and hold your appointment and prevent re-appointment. Thank you for doing so, as even though we call to confirm our patients the day before, we are often unable to reach you.

Please call the office one hour prior to the procedure to confirm our schedule, because we are an emergency specialty and accommodate such patients.

You will be given an approximate appointment time that we do our utmost to maintain. As patients are seen on an emergency basis, please be understanding should the time be altered. Please bring any time restraints to our attention upon arrival at the front desk. If you know ahead of time that your appointment needs to be cancelled, please notify the office as soon as possible so we can adjust our schedule.

LOCAL ANESTHESIA cases are booked on a TUESDAY and THURSDAY.
IV SEDATION/GENERAL ANESTHESIA cases are booked on a WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY.

SHOULD AN EMERGENCY ARISE AFTER HOURS, PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS OR GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE NEAREST HOSPITAL:

HOME: 631-265-0641
CELL: 631-804-8048
NEXTEL: 516-805-0391
STAFF CELL: 631-492-0862

FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOCAL ANESTHESIA:

Local procedures are performed on a Tuesday or Thursday. Please understand that the time to become numb varies for each individual, so please allow additional time for this. This is especially true of patients that are chronically infected. It may be necessary for these individuals to take their antibiotics for a few days prior to surgery. You may eat a light meal and may drive yourself home. If you think you may be light-headed after the procedure, then please arrange for transportation.

Patients requiring antibiotic pre-medication, as well as implant cases and bone grafting cases, are asked to take their antibiotics one hour prior to your scheduled appointment. All other medications (ie. Blood pressure meds, etc.) should be taken as usual unless specifically held by the patient’s physician.

PREGNANCY:

Pregnant patients in their first trimester must consult their OB/GYN for treatment. Pregnant patients in their second and third trimester must obtain medial clearance in writing indicating the following:

What trimester the patient is in (under no circumstances should elective surgery be performed in the first trimester).
What type of local anesthesia may be used (i.e. with or without epinephrine)
Medication recommendations for pain control and antibiotic (never take tetracycline!)

Permission to obtain X-rays with double lead apron (we have digital x-rays; 90% LESS RADIATION).

PATIENTS RECEIVING IV SEDATION:

Please call the office ONE HOUR prior to the procedure to confirm the time of your procedure in our schedule, as it is subject to change should a young child or diabetic require surgery. This expedites the flow of the schedule and helps reduce waiting time.

A board certified M.D. Anesthesiologist will administer IV Sedation and/or general anesthesia (intubation). You may NOT EAT OR DRINK from midnight the night before your appointment (at least 8 hours prior). You must bring a driver and the driver must stay throughout the procedure (unless it is a lengthy case and arrangements are made ahead of time).

If it is necessary to take medication before surgery, i.e. High blood pressure medication or antibiotic pre-medication, you may take it with a SIP of water.

Medical clearance in writing may be required depending on the patient’s medical history. Please tell the anesthesiologist this information at your pre-op visit. If unclear as to whether you should take these meds, please contact our office ahead of time. Patients who require medical clearance for surgery must provide our office with WRITTEN medical permission for surgery prior to the surgery date in order to comply with any requests. An ECG (over age 50) and/or CXR (chest x-ray over age 65) may be required as part of obtaining medical clearance.

Special tests are needed prior to surgery (i.e. blood tests, ekg, chest xray, CT scan or MRI), please make sure that the necessary information has arrived at the office prior to surgery. This will ensure time to repeat any abnormal tests or postpone surgery accordingly.

If you develop an upper respiratory infection, ie. a cold or sore throat, or any other noteworthy condition, please notify you M.D. for advice and our office as soon as possible. Surgery may have to be postponed. This is at the discretion of your physician and our M.D. Anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist will speak with you personally either the night before surgery by phone and/or will examine you in person in our office just prior to surgery to ascertain if you should proceed.

Please leave valuables at home (i.e. jewelry, money, etc.).

Please do not make any plans involving important decisions (i.e. signing important documents like a will, etc.) or drive a car or operate machinery for the remainder of the day (24 hours), since the anesthetic medications are still circulating in your system.

Please be sure to fill and pick up your prescriptions prior to your surgery to and bring them with you that day so we may go over the specifics of taking them with you in the recovery room prior to your discharge to avoid any misunderstandings and optimize your post-operative recovery.

Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing the day of surgery to expedite placement of monitoring (i.e. blood pressure cuff, ECG pads, etc.) Short sleeves are preferred. Please minimize or eliminate make up and nail polish. Cosmetics can contaminate the surgical site and nail polish can interfere with the pulse oximeter function. Do not wear high heels or elevated platforms as your reflexes may be slowed and walking in them may be hazardous.

We will give you an ice pack to leave with, but it would be helpful if you could prepare some at home to use over the 2 days immediately following surgery. (i.e. placing water in baggies and freezing, etc.)

Prepare and/or purchase soft foods to eat after the surgery, as well as vitamin supplements- scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, pastina, applesauce, jello, oatmeal, Ensure, Boost, etc.

If your surgery involves a prosthesis (i.e. denture, flipper, or surgical stent, etc.), please bring it with you or have your dentist make arrangements for delivery ahead of time to make sure that it is correctly fabricated.

Please discuss with the doctor if you have plans to fly following different types of surgery (i.e. avoid flying 2 weeks following sinus lift surgery, etc.).

Remember to check with your physician or our office regarding stoppage of blood thinners, including aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, etc. You may be asked to stop one week to 10 days prior to your surgery date.

Please plan on spending a minimum of two hours in the office. Time is spent pre-op-ing the patient and recovering the patient following anesthesia. The patient must be accompanied by an adult upon discharge and may not leave alone or by taxi.

A blanket and pillow in the car is advisable for comfort on your return trip.

Do not consume alcoholic beverages while you have the anesthetic medication or any narcotics in you, preferably until the healing process is complete.

Please make sure you review this booklet prior to your surgery so we may answer any questions you may have regarding your care.

Please notify the office if you have any questions. Usually a single explanation can resolve the situation and free you of any concerns.