Our team of board certified anesthesiologists and CRNAs administer medicines that prevent patients from feeling pain and sensations during surgery and other medical procedures.  They are also responsible for monitoring your vital functions during surgery and through the first recovery stages after an operation.

We offer patients the most advanced anesthesiology and pain management options available with a full range of general, regional and local procedures.  The team specializes in many aspects of anesthetic management, including pediatric, neurosurgical, orthopedic, obstetrical, regional and thoracic anesthesia, as well as pain management.

Our anesthesiology staff is involved in all aspects of surgical care, including preoperative evaluation, monitoring patients during surgery, and afterward in the recovery room.  The type of anesthetic depends on the patients’ age, health conditions, health habits, and the procedures being performed.

There are three main categories of anesthesia:

Sedation consists of medications that induce relaxation and comfort in our patients.  The level of sedation may range from minimal, moderate, to deep.

General anesthesia is an anesthetic used to induce unconsciousness during surgery. Once the surgery is complete, the anesthesiology clinician discontinues the anesthetic and the patient wakes up in the recovery room.

Regional anesthesia is used to numb only the portion of the body where the surgery is performed. There are several forms of regional anesthetics, including “epidural,” which is used during labor and childbirth.  Various forms of regional anesthesia, or nerve block, can also be administered to reduce postoperative pain.  If applicable, they will be discussed in the anesthetic plan with the patients.

Our department is also involved in the education of the future generation of health care providers, providing them with the most updated tools and knowledge to succeed.

Anesthesiology During Labor and Delivery

While many women choose a nonmedicated labor and delivery, anesthesia can be provided, based on the woman’s wishes and her physician’s recommendation.

An anesthesiologist is available to discuss pain management options before your admission to the hospital and while you are here.

Anesthesia options include:

Epidural: An epidural is a local anesthetic delivered through a tiny tube called a catheter, which is placed in the small of the back, just outside the spinal canal. An epidural allows most women to fully participate in the birth experience (continuing to feel touch and pressure) while relieving most, if not all, of the pains of labor.

Spinal: This anesthetic is similar to an epidural, but because it is administered with a needle into the spinal fluid, its effects are more immediate.

For more information visit https://whmcny.org/departments/ob-gyn/

Other Specialized Services

Specialized services provided by the Department of Anesthesiology include:

• Anesthetic care for surgical procedures
• Anesthetic care in labor and delivery for labor and cesarean section
• Specialized techniques of regional anesthesia
• Advanced peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management
• Sedation for services outside of the operating rooms including endoscopy, radiology, cardiology, bronchoscopy and emergency room
• Consultation for airway management throughout the hospital
• Pain management services
  for information about Pain Management, visit https://whmcny.org/departments/pain-management/

Our anesthesiology specialists are affiliated with North American Partners in Anesthesia, the leading single specialty anesthesia and perioperative management company in the United States.  Our mission is to deliver an exceptional experience for every patient and every client every day.