Anesthesia services at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester are provided by the Lawrence Division of Westchester Anesthesiologists. We are a physician-only practice of anesthesiologists board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
Our primary role is to ensure your safety and comfort in the peri-operative period. We administer anesthetics and analgesics to patients of all ages, including infants and women in labor, to make your experience as a surgical patient here as safe, comfortable, and pleasant as possible. We also assist in the care of critically ill patients and provide treatment to patients with acute and chronic pain.
Surgical Anesthesia
We are available around-the-clock to provide anesthesia for elective and emergency surgeries. We provide services for all types of procedures except open-heart cases.
Prior to bringing patients into the operating room (OR), the anesthesiologists will:
- Obtain medical history directly from patients and perform a physical exam focused on those areas especially pertinent for the safe conduct of anesthesia;
- Review charts and laboratory results;
- Explain the anesthetic plan: general vs. regional vs. MAC; and
- Offer patients the opportunity to ask questions.
We use only the newest volatile agents (sevoflurane and desflurane) for general anesthesia. Compared with other anesthetics in general use, these new agents provide patients the fastest wake-up and give them the least feeling of hangover post-op. For surgical procedures or medical conditions in which volatile agents are best avoided, we can administer total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA)—in other words, when the need arises, we can eliminate the "smelly" gases.
The state-of-the-art advanced intra-operative monitoring at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester includes BIS monitors that help anesthesiologists assess the level of "consciousness" in patients under anesthesia, thereby minimizing their chances of recall while having surgery.
All operating rooms are equipped with state-of-art machines to maintain patients' body temperature while under anesthesia. The goal of our operating team is to keep patients "warm" and surgeons "cool."
Pain Control after Surgery
To minimize discomfort after surgery, we provide many choices for pain control. For those choosing intravenous narcotics, we prescribe "patient controlled analgesia" (PCA), which allows patients, within safe parameters, to decide on their own dosing schedule. We also offer nerve blocks, spinal, or epidural analgesics. To provide more autonomy for patients, we offer the option of "patient controlled epidural analgesia" (PCEA). Patients can choose their own comfort level by adjusting the amount of medications being delivered via epidural catheters with the touch of a button. To minimize discomfort and to improve accuracy during nerve blocks, we use electronic and/or ultrasonic guidance.
Special Consideration for Pediatric Patients
At Lawrence, we understand the special needs of infants and children undergoing elective surgery. To allay separation anxiety for parents and their children, we welcome parents to stay in the OR until their most precious possessions are "asleep."
Obstetrics Anesthesia
We are available around-the-clock to provide pain relief for patients in labor or to administer anesthesia for Cesarean Sections (C-section).
Regional anesthesia offers the best pain relief during labor. We are skilled in administering anesthesia through spinal, epidural, or combined spinal/epidural (CSE) injections. For selected patients in early labor, a tiny dose of narcotic and/or local anesthetic will sometimes be injected. This method is called a "walking epidural" since motivated patients can choose to move around with assistance under supervision. Patients given an epidural will have a small catheter left in place throughout labor to allow medications to be given intermittently or continuously. To give patients more autonomy, pumps are available so they can adjust their desired level of comfort (PCEA).