Fear of the unknown can make surgery and anesthesia unnecessarily stressful. Approximately 90% of patients experience some degree of anxiety about "going under" before their procedure – worrying about pain, waking during surgery, or post-operative grogginess. But what if patients had reliable answers to their most pressing questions?

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation has developed a groundbreaking resource to address this need. In this episode, we introduce the Patient Guide to Anesthesia and Surgery – a comprehensive tool designed to demystify the perioperative experience. Salvador Gullo Neto, lead of the APSF Patient Engagement Workgroup, explains why patient involvement matters: "If the patient is the primary stakeholder in their own safety, why are they left out of these conversations?" 

We explore the guide's three detailed sections – Anesthesia FAQ, Surgery FAQ, and Pain Management FAQ – covering everything from different types of anesthesia to essential questions patients should ask their clinicians before surgery. The guide addresses common concerns like the risks of anesthesia, what to expect during recovery, and options for managing post-operative pain. For medical professionals, it serves as a valuable reference during patient consultations.

Healthcare has evolved from being done "for" patients to being done "with" patients as active participants. This shift represents the future of medical care – a collaborative approach where informed patients and dedicated healthcare professionals work together to achieve the best possible outcomes. We hope that you will check out this invaluable resource today and share it with patients, colleagues, and loved ones. Visit APSF.org or check our show notes for more information.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/254-the-patients-guide-to-anesthesia-and-surgery/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation