Pre-Operative Testing

In some cases, tests and consultations with physicians are required prior to surgery. Pre-admission testing may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram, and a chest x-ray which, in most cases, should be performed no more than 30 days before the procedure. Your surgeon/proceduralist will tell you if you need tests and help you schedule them if they are required. If you have any questions, you can also call the Pre-Admission Testing Center at (212) 241-3188 on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Because everyone's situation is unique, we encourage you to discuss with your anesthesiologist and your surgeon/proceduralist any concerns that are not covered here.

The Mount Sinai Hospital operates a Pre-Admission Testing Center that is directed by the Department of Anesthesiology, since anesthesiologists provide much of your medical care immediately before, during, and immediately after surgery. You may be asked by your surgeon to visit the Center prior to your surgery. (Alternatively, you may be directed by your surgeon to an outside testing center, or you may not require any further testing before surgery.) Both a full-time attending anesthesiologist and an anesthesiology resident provide pre-anesthesia consultation for almost all surgical patients coming to the Center. Patient-care associates draw blood and obtain electrocardiograms, and x-ray can be performed in our Radiology department, if necessary. Registered nurses call patients at home for nursing evaluations and patient education. The doctors and nurses will answer many of your questions and may determine that further preoperative tests or physician consultations are needed. The Center maintains all of the important information that is collected preoperatively (including the you should have completed by this time) to be certain that it is available at the time of surgery. We also provide some information during the visit about insurance coverage and health care proxies.

As we noted above, your surgeon/proceduralist will decide whether you need evaluation in our Center. Patients who do not see a doctor regularly and patients with multiple medical problems are encouraged to come to our Pre-Admission Testing Center, as are patients who have had problems with anesthesia during prior surgery/procedures or have concerns about anesthesia.

If you come to our Pre-Admission Testing Center, please bring a list of all the medications you are taking (including dietary supplements and herbal remedies), results of heart or lung tests if you have them, as well as the names and telephone numbers of doctors you see on a regular basis. Also make sure to tell us about any allergies you have (including to medications, foods, and substances like latex or iodinated x-ray contrast).

Medications
Special instructions about your medication(s) in the days before your surgery may be given to you by your surgeon or by the anesthesiologist. In particular, drugs that prevent blood clotting (blood thinners, such as Coumadin, Plavix, aspirin, NSAIDs, and some herbal supplements) will require special instructions.

Stop Smoking
Research has clearly shown that smoking can increase the chances of complications of anesthesia and surgery, and also causes many long term health problems. In addition, there is no smoking allowed inside of hospital facilities. So now would be a perfect time to break the smoking habit. For help quitting (counseling, support, nicotine replacement, and other aids) speak with your doctor or visit the Smoke Free for Surgery website.

Financial Planning
Questions related to hospital charges for your surgery can be addressed to Hospital Financial Screening at (212) 731-3600. If your surgery/procedure requires anesthesia services, you will receive a bill for anesthesia services separate from the hospital and surgeon. The anesthesiologists participate with many, but not all insurance plans. The surgeon's participation (or lack thereof) with an insurance plan may affect the anesthesia bill. Questions about billing and payment can be addressed in advance by calling our anesthesia billing providers at (800) 627-4470.