Despite the obvious fact that an anesthetic is a crucial part of any surgery, you will likely only meet briefly with your anesthesiologist before your procedure. Without more time to talk about your concerns, you'll still have unanswered questions: How will you know I'm asleep? Is it possible to wake up during surgery? How will you monitor me during my surgery? What are the potential complications I should know about? Written by a board-certified, veteran anesthesiologist, The Anesthesia Fact Book puts a sense of control back in your hands and will make you a more informed and more confident patient. Answering the most common questions you may have about the anesthetic process, it includes essential information on: How general anesthesia works and how it differs from twilight, spinal, or epidural anesthesia The credentials you should look for in your anesthesiologist The key questions you should be sure to ask before your surgery The heart and breathing monitors used during most surgeries The risks associated with anesthesia delivered in a doctor's office