Anesthesiology Services & Treatment in Austin

When you need anesthesia services during your care in Austin, Minnesota, our anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified anesthesia technicians provide personalized treatment. In addition to surgical anesthesia, our team also assists with airway management, intravenous access and labor analgesia.

Anesthesia options

The anesthesia you receive for surgery will depend on your physical condition and the procedure you're undergoing. A member of the Anesthesia team will meet with you prior to surgery to discuss past health information, explain any risks and anesthesia options.

General categories of anesthesia include:

Local anesthesia

This form is used to numb a small part of your body, allowing you to remain fully alert and is short-lived. Local anesthetics typically are used for office procedures, such as a skin biopsy or stitching a cut.

Regional anesthesia

This form is used to block sensation in a particular region of your body. The anesthesia is injected around a single nerve or cluster of nerves that branch out and serve that area. Intravenous (IV) sedation also may be used to relax you and make you feel sleepy during placement of the regional block. Spinal and epidural are two common regional procedures that involve injecting an anesthetic near the nerves as they leave the spinal cord, effectively numbing the lower half of your body. These are commonly used for pelvic operations, leg and hip surgeries, and childbirth.

General anesthesia

This form is appropriate for more extensive surgeries that require you to be unconscious. The drugs used in general anesthesia are given intravenously or inhaled through a mask. They act as hypnotics, painkillers and muscle relaxants, and they block the memory of a surgery.

Anesthesia safety

Monitoring equipment has dramatically improved the safety of anesthesia. Routine monitors used for all anesthetics include measurement of your blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation. Supplemental oxygen is used for all patients receiving sedative medications. Our primary goal is patient safety, and the monitors provide early detection of possible problems.

Recovering from anesthesia

After surgery, you are taken to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) where you will be cared for by skilled nursing staff, under the supervision of the anesthesiologist. Our staff are trained in postoperative pain management and use the latest pain control techniques.