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If you're going to have surgery, anesthesia is a must. And if you're having a baby, you might choose to receive anesthesia to lessen the pain of childbirth.

Anesthesia care is a crucial service at every health care facility, and Columbus Community Hospital is no exception. Our full-time certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) most often provide care in our operating rooms. But they also offer anesthesia elsewhere as needed, including in the emergency room and in the labor and delivery unit for cesarean sections or labor pain management. Here's more information about how they work to ensure you have a safe and comfortable experience.

Anesthesia tailored to your needs

The type of anesthesia you need before a procedure depends on various factors.

"We don't do cookie-cutter anesthesia," said Jon Brunott, DNAP, CRNA, director of anesthesia at CCH. "We're going to tailor your anesthesia to give you the best and safest care."

To personalize medical pain management, team members review each patient's chart and health history ahead of time and use evidence-based research to guide their choices.

"We interview the patient — talk with them, give them our plan and answer their questions," Brunott said. "If they don't want to do something, we listen. We put them at ease. A lot of patients are more scared of the anesthetic than the surgery. We teach, coach and reassure them that anesthesia is safe."

Many patients worry about post-surgery nausea and vomiting because of past experiences. Nausea can be caused by narcotic medication used in anesthesia. For the last five years, many of the anesthesia providers at CCH have used opioid-free anesthesia — non-narcotic medications that still keep patients comfortable without the nausea.

Depending on the patient and procedure, providers may use different types of anesthesia, such as:

General. You will be unconscious during the procedure. General anesthesia is performed in an operating room, and you wake up in a recovery room. An anesthesia expert will help you wake up safely and ensure you're comfortable before you return to a hospital room or your home.

We don't do cookie-cutter anesthesia. We're going to tailor your anesthesia to give you the best and safest care."
— Jon Brunott, DNAP, CRNA, director of anesthesia at CCH

Regional. Pain sensations are blocked only in a specific part of the body. This allows an expert to give you less anesthetic during the surgery, so you wake up faster and have better pain control.

Spinal. A spinal is a one-shot injection into the back that numbs the legs from about the belly button down. "We use these mainly for total hip or knee replacements and other orthopedic surgeries, as well as cesarean sections," Brunott said. "We give you MAC anesthesia along with it."

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC). MAC provides deep sedation through the use of intravenous (IV) medications. It allows you to be comfortable and pain-free while still breathing on your own. It's commonly used for procedures such as colonoscopies and minor surgeries, but it can also be combined with spinal or regional anesthesia.

Keeping laboring moms comfortable

Anesthesia isn't used only in surgeries. Epidurals are a key part of the anesthesia team's work, particularly in obstetrics. It takes about five to seven minutes to perform an epidural, Brunott said, and the pain management technique is available around the clock. For Brunott, it's one of the most rewarding parts of the job because of the immediate relief epidurals provide and the gratitude of the laboring moms.

Highly trained team

CRNAs are advanced practice nurses with a strong nursing foundation. They earn a bachelor's degree in nursing and gain several years of intensive care unit (ICU) experience caring for critically ill patients. They then complete a three-year doctoral degree program in anesthesia, with the same coursework and clinical cases as physician anesthesiologists. After all that, they must pass a national board certification.

"We practice to the full extent of our training," Brunott said. "We're highly trained, competent and safe."

The talented staff members of the anesthesia team at CCH work hard to provide quality care and produce good results for patients.

Categories: Anesthesia