What an anesthesiologist exam covers
Anesthesiology is the field of medicine that deals with the safe performance of anaesthesia and sedation, pain control and monitoring of vital functions during a procedure. A pre-operative anesthesiologist exam is an assessment that, before the procedure itself, establishes whether and in what way it is safe to apply anaesthesia specifically to you.
At Medical Time the exam begins with a detailed conversation about your health. The anesthesiologist asks about chronic conditions (heart, lungs, blood pressure, sugar, kidneys, thyroid gland), past operations and anaesthesias, any complications, allergies, the medications you take, and habits such as smoking. This conversation reveals everything that can affect the course of the anaesthesia.
A clinical examination follows, focused on assessing the heart, lungs and airway, as well as a review of the findings you have brought — laboratory, ECG and, if needed, additional tests. Based on all of this, the anesthesiologist places the patient in the appropriate risk category and decides whether additional tests or a consultation with another specialist are needed.
At the end, the anesthesiologist chooses and suggests the safest type of anaesthesia for the planned procedure — general anaesthesia (while asleep), regional, local or sedation — and explains what you can expect. You also receive precise instructions on preparation, above all how many hours before the procedure you should fast and which medications you may, and may not, take that morning.
When to see an anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist exam is done when you are facing a procedure that requires anaesthesia or sedation, whether it is an operation or a diagnostic procedure while asleep, such as a gastroscopy or colonoscopy. The assessment is most often carried out before the procedure itself, and for more complex conditions earlier, so there is time for preparation.
An anesthesiology assessment is especially important in the following situations:
- before every operation under general, regional or local anaesthesia
- before diagnostic procedures under sedation (gastroscopy, colonoscopy and others)
- in patients with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, blood pressure or diabetes
- in cases of past complications or adverse reactions to anaesthesia
- in cases of allergies to medications, anaesthetics or known sensitivities
- in older patients and people taking several medications at once
- in cases of blood-thinning therapy, which requires adjustment before the procedure
- when it is necessary to align the dose of medications and preparation instructions before the procedure
What the exam looks like — the process
An anesthesiologist exam is painless and non-invasive, and usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. It requires no special preparation — the most important thing is to bring all your findings and an accurate list of medications.
After a conversation about your health and the history of past operations and anaesthesias, the anesthesiologist carries out a clinical examination focused on the heart, lungs and airway. The heart and lungs are listened to, blood pressure is measured and general condition assessed, and the airway is examined carefully, because that is important for safely conducting the anaesthesia.
The anesthesiologist then reviews the findings you have brought — the blood count, blood clotting parameters, sugar, ECG and any specialist reports. If something is missing or something requires additional checking, they will ask for it to be completed before the procedure. Based on the overall assessment, the risk category is determined.
At the end the anesthesiologist suggests the type of anaesthesia, explains how the procedure will go from the anaesthesia point of view and gives clear, written instructions on preparation. The consent for anaesthesia is signed, with the opportunity to ask all your questions. If the assessment establishes that additional testing or stabilisation of a chronic condition is needed, the procedure is postponed until the conditions for safe anaesthesia are created — because safety always comes first.
What to bring to the exam
So the anesthesiology assessment can be complete and accurate, it is important to bring all available medical documentation. The more information the anesthesiologist has, the more precise the risk assessment and the safer the anaesthesia.
Bring:
- current laboratory findings (blood count, blood clotting parameters, sugar, kidney and liver parameters)
- an ECG and, if you have them, cardiologist or pulmonologist findings
- discharge letters and reports on past operations and anaesthesias
- an accurate list of all the medications you take, with doses — especially blood-thinning therapy and diabetes medications
- details of chronic conditions, allergies and past reactions to anaesthesia
- a referral or finding with the planned procedure, if you have one
When you receive the report
You receive the report of the pre-operative assessment and the preparation instructions immediately, at the exam itself. The anesthesiologist explains the conclusion verbally, the proposed type of anaesthesia and everything you need to do before the procedure, and hands you a written report.
If the assessment established that additional tests or a consultation with another specialist are needed, you receive a clear list and, if needed, a new appointment before the procedure. When all conditions are met, it is confirmed that it is safe to proceed with the anaesthesia. All documentation is kept with your chart for the safe conduct of the procedure.
Why have an anesthesiologist exam at Medical Time
At Medical Time the pre-operative assessment, diagnostics and the procedure itself are available in one place, with an experienced anesthesiology team and constant monitoring of vital functions during the procedure. Our goal is for every anaesthesia to be thoroughly prepared and maximally safe, tailored exactly to your health condition.
- experienced anesthesiologists and a careful, individual risk assessment
- a choice of the safest type of anaesthesia for your procedure
- missing diagnostics can be completed in one place
- clear, written instructions on preparation and medications
- constant monitoring of pulse, breathing and oxygen saturation during the procedure
- quick booking of the assessment, without unnecessary delay
- digital storage of documentation for the safe conduct of anaesthesia
Price — anesthesiologist exam
The price of a pre-operative anesthesiologist assessment depends on the complexity of your health condition and on whether additional tests are needed before the procedure. For procedures done under anaesthesia at Medical Time, the assessment is often already included in the preparation. You will get the exact price and an appointment quickly, by phone or through the contact form.
- Pre-operative anesthesiologist exam
- Anesthesiologist consultation
- Repeat anesthesia assessment before the procedure
For the current price and an appointment, call 062-399-888.
Frequently asked questions about the anesthesiologist exam
Because before every procedure the anesthesiologist must assess your health condition, risk and the safest type of anaesthesia. This assessment prevents complications and allows the procedure to go smoothly and safely, tailored exactly to you.
No. The exam is painless and non-invasive — it consists of a conversation, a clinical examination of the heart and lungs and a review of your findings. It does not include any painful procedures.
For simple procedures the assessment is most often carried out just before the procedure itself. For chronic conditions or more complex situations it is done earlier, so there is time for additional tests and preparation.
Bring current laboratory results, an ECG, specialist findings if you have them, discharge letters from past operations and an accurate list of all medications with doses. Be sure to report chronic conditions, allergies and past reactions to anaesthesia.
For procedures under anaesthesia or sedation you usually do not eat for at least 6 hours, and clear fluids are stopped 2 hours before the procedure. The exact instructions tailored to you are given by the anesthesiologist at the exam, because they depend on the type of anaesthesia and the time of the procedure.
Some medications should be taken with a little water, and some left out — that depends on your therapy. The anesthesiologist tells you exactly what to do, especially with blood-thinning therapy and diabetes medications. Do not change anything on your own.
If it is established that additional tests are needed or a chronic condition should first be stabilised, the procedure is postponed until the conditions for safe anaesthesia are created. Safety always comes first.