The anesthesia consultation is a separate medical appointment from the consultation with the surgeon. It allows the anesthesiologist to learn about your health, prepare a strategy tailored to the planned procedure, and answer your questions. To make it worthwhile, it's best to arrive with accurate information rather than with the expectation of "successfully acing" the consultation.
This guide helps you gather documents, identify information to report, and prepare for important questions. It does not provide any fasting or treatment guidelines: these decisions depend on your individual case, the procedure, and the organization of the facility. To place this appointment within the overall context of the process, please also consult the surgical pathway in France.
What is the purpose of the anesthesia consultation?
According to the French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, the consultation serves to assess the patient's health, to consider the appropriate technique(s), to provide information on the procedure, its advantages and disadvantages, and to gather the patient's questions and preferences. The relevant information is recorded in the patient's file for the team that will administer the anesthesia.
This appointment does not replace information about the procedure itself, which is the responsibility of the professional performing it. Nor does it guarantee that a specific technique will be chosen under all circumstances. The proposal takes into account the available information, the procedure, and the medical evaluation. On the day of the procedure, checks are repeated to confirm key points and incorporate any changes.
The right to information remains central: you can ask about the usefulness of a technique, its consequences, the normally foreseeable risks, and other possible solutions. Stating that you did not understand a term or that you wish to rephrase what has been decided is a normal part of participating in the consultation.
What documents should I prepare before the appointment?
There is no single, identical file for all facilities. The appointment letter, the questionnaire provided, and the department's instructions are the reference documents. Lists published by some hospitals illustrate documents that are often useful, but they do not replace the list requested for your specific consultation.
Summons, questionnaire and up-to-date prescriptions
- The summons and the pre-anesthetic questionnaire, carefully completed if you were given it.
- Recent prescriptions and a legible list of all medications, over-the-counter products and supplements used.
- Administrative or identity documents expressly requested by the establishment.
Don't just say that a treatment is "the same as usual." An up-to-date prescription reduces the risk of missed doses and allows the doctor to accurately verify what is being taken. Do not interrupt, reschedule, or add anything on your own initiative before the appointment. If information is missing, point it out rather than trying to piece it together randomly.
Reports, reviews and useful maps
- Relevant medical records: hospitalization, specialist consultation, previous anesthesia or recent procedure.
- The results of tests requested by the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the department, without having to carry out any additional tests yourself.
- Cards or documents relating to a known allergy, an implanted device, or a specific medical condition.
Bring what truly clarifies your situation, especially if the documents are not already available at the facility. The pre-operative preparation checklist can serve as a filing tool, but the consultation remains a medical exchange, not an administrative check to be completed.
What information needs to be reported?
Describe any known health problems, allergies or past reactions, current treatments, and previous experiences with anesthesia. Also mention any dentures or dental fragility, as the SFAR (French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care) considers this important information during the consultation. If you are unsure whether a past event was an allergy, describe what happened without attempting to diagnose it yourself.
A history of respiratory, cardiac, neurological, renal, or hepatic problems, known sleep disorders, possible pregnancy, mobility or communication difficulties, and substance use may affect the questions asked or the procedure. This list is not a complete medical questionnaire. Respond to the doctor's requests and spontaneously mention anything that seems important to you, even if it appears unrelated to the surgical area.
Also inform the team of any recent changes: new symptoms, ongoing infection, emergency room visits, changes in treatment, or worsening of a known condition. The goal is not to decide alone whether the operation should proceed, but to provide the department with the necessary information to answer your question.
What questions should I ask the anesthesiologist-resuscitator?
Prepare a short, prioritized list. You can ask which technique is being considered, why it seems appropriate, what alternatives can be discussed, and how monitoring and recovery will proceed. Also ask which side effects are particularly relevant to your situation and what pain management is planned.
- What information in my file influences the anesthesia recommendation?
- What written instructions will I receive regarding my treatments, food, and drinks?
- Who should I contact if my health condition or medication changes before the procedure?
- What are the return and monitoring conditions planned by the establishment?
- What documents do I need to bring on the day of the operation?
You can also express a difficult experience, fear of waking up, previous nausea, anxiety about needles, or a need to adjust. If apprehension is a major concern, the guide on pre-operative anxiety can help you articulate these worries without minimizing them.
Fasting and treatments: follow only individualized instructions
Instructions regarding food, drinks, and medications should not be deduced from a general article, forum, or protocol received by another person. They are determined by the team based on the procedure, the planned anesthesia, your health, and local procedures.
Request a written copy and verify that you know what to do for each treatment. If two documents appear to contradict each other, if you have missed a dose, if you have eaten or drunk something contrary to what was instructed, or if a new prescription has been added, contact the department. Do not withhold information or attempt to correct the situation on your own: the team will advise you on the appropriate course of action.
What happens after the consultation?
The information gathered and the proposed treatment plan discussed are recorded in the anesthesia file. The physician present on the day of the procedure may not be the same one seen during the consultation; they have access to the file and will review the necessary information. This repetition contributes to safety and allows for consideration of any recent changes.
Keep the documents you receive, note the service's contact information, and review the instructions early enough to ask any questions. For outpatient care, the arrangements for your return home and support depend on the facility and your individual situation. Do not assume that a planned discharge precludes changes: the team will confirm the decision based on the observed conditions.
If your health changes between the consultation and the procedure, inform the department with specific details. Prompt information is better than making a personal decision to proceed, postpone, or cancel. In case of a medical emergency, use the emergency services rather than the facility's messaging system or an information page.
After intubation: When general anesthesia requires an endotracheal tube, a sore throat in the following days is common and usually temporary. What this entails, and when to report it, are discussed in the guide on sore throat after intubation.
Institutional sources and editorial method
This article provides a general preparation method. It intentionally does not reproduce any specific fasting guidelines or treatment modifications. The required documents and applicable instructions must be confirmed by the facility and the anesthesiologist/intensivist.
- SFAR, Medical Information on Anesthesia.
- Public Service, Patient Information on Their Health Status.
- French National Authority for Health, Generic Operating Room Safety Checklist.
- French National Authority for Health, Medication Reconciliation.
- Health insurance, hospitalization and outpatient surgery.
- AP-HP Lariboisière, Centralized Anesthesia Consultation.
- Ministry of Health, Outpatient Surgery.
Editorial note: No specific medical review is claimed. Sources were consulted to provide context for the general information; they do not replace consultation or the documents provided by the team.
If you smoke, quitting before the procedure is one of the topics discussed during the consultation: see smoking before and after an operation.
