Pre-Operative Anesthesia Clinic
Our Mission
The Department of Anesthesiology at McGovern Medical School is a leader in Perioperative Medicine. A comprehensive approach to preparation to surgery is a preoperative evaluation. It aims to examine and physically assess patients, and discuss the available and feasible options of anesthesia as well to obtain informed consent from patients or legal guardians. This preoperative assessment closely reviews a patient’s past medical and surgical history, as well as preexisting medical risk factors, medications and laboratory results.
The faculty anesthesiologists involved with the clinic examination are prepared to inform patients on key points of the operation and anesthetic aspects of their planned care. Any condition which requires additional medical attention or care will first be addressed by the anesthesiologist in the clinic and then communicated to either an urgent care facility in our medical center or another appropriate facility. In the elective setting, the anesthesiologists’ role is to help prepare patients for anticipated anesthesia and surgery both of which have inherent risks. By early examination and consultation, the goal is to minimize potential complications, maintain safe medical practices, improve outcomes, and optimize the patient’s health status before their scheduled surgery.
Clinic Facility
Our Pre-Operative Anesthesia Clinic is located on the 6th floor of the UT Professional Building in the Texas Medical Center. The clinic is operated together with Memorial Hermann Hospital at TMC. Our staff will orient patients to the operative setting and answer any patient queries. Nurses, nurse practitioner and physicians alike facilitate this process. It is our hope that our patients receive the best possible care and all the information they request. There is both a faculty and resident anesthesiologist who are assigned Monday through Friday to cover the clinic and provide consultation. Additionally, the Department of Anesthesiology works in conjunction with the UTHealth Department of Internal Medicine which has a group of faculty who assist in medical work-up and treatment in both the clinic and hospital setting.
The following are surgery services which refer to the preoperative assessment clinic (in alphabetical order):
- Bariatric Surgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult)
- General Surgery
- Gynecology
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Urology
According to the new ACGME program requirements, one month experience in the preoperative setting, such as the Pre-Operative Anesthesia Assessment Clinic, is required. An understanding of pre-existing medical conditions and the physiologic effects of anesthetic agents belongs to the knowledge base of anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology residents will participate in this clinic to gain experience in this type of medical evaluation. The overall medical impression of organ systems and baseline functional status will be discussed between anesthesiology faculty and residents during the assessment and appropriate consultations will be made, if necessary.
We want to reassure our patients that in the unfamiliar setting of having an operation and receiving general anesthesia, expert physicians are available, ready to discuss all issues and are prepared to provide the medical care that is required for the safest possible experience during surgery.
 | Davide Cattano, MD, PhD, FASA Medical Director, Pre-Operative Anesthesia Clinic Professor, Anesthesiology |