Anesthesiology

At The University of Kansas Health System, our anesthesiology team provides leading-edge care for operative procedures, as well as acute, chronic and cancer pain. Our large team of anesthesiology professionals delivers state-of-the-art care in multiple settings – all within the No. 1 hospital in Kansas as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Anesthesiologists are physicians who have received additional, specialized training to help people prevent or manage pain. You'll find our anesthesiologists in the expected areas – the operating room and labor and delivery suites – where they provide comfort, pain relief and lifesaving perioperative care.

But you'll also find us in places that you might not expect. Our highly trained physicians care for patients before and after surgery in the intensive care units and offer consultation and management of medical conditions in preparation for surgery. They are on duty throughout the hospital bringing technology, expertise and leading-edge treatment options to help you manage pain and recover more fully, more quickly.

Our anesthesiologists care for people across multiple specialty areas, some of which include:

The pre-anesthesia process is designed to help prepare our team by giving them more information about you, and to help prepare you by giving you more information about your treatment plan. Our goal is to deliver quality care and speed your recovery process.

To help minimize the risk of complications, we want to learn about you and your medical history in order to optimize care and comfort during your procedure.

This typically begins with a series of questions about your general health, typically about:

• Existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure and diabetes)
• Family history
• Known allergies or adverse reactions to medications
• Lifestyle choices (such as smoking and alcohol consumption)
• Medications you’re currently taking (such as aspirin and prescriptions)

Depending upon your procedure, you may be asked to have a brief physical examination and complete laboratory or other clinical tests such as an EKG. In some cases, the anesthesiologist may also ask permission to obtain your medical records.

A team of specially trained nurses, pharmacists and anesthesiologists will review your health profile to determine the optimal anesthetic plan for your procedure. One of our anesthesiologists will then communicate this recommendation with you and your surgeon to provide you with the opportunity to ask any questions and develop a thorough understanding of what to expect in regards to the anesthesia associated with your procedure.