Anesthesiology and Reanimation

Anesthesia and Patient Safety at BHT Clinic

The success of surgical operations is directly related to the technological infrastructure of the operating rooms and intensive care units. In our hospital, modern monitoring systems are used to keep patient safety at the highest level. Throughout the surgery, your heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and body temperature are continuously monitored. In the event of a potential risk, immediate intervention ensures your vital functions are secured.

For those needing Küçükçekmece intensive care and searching for general intensive care in Istanbul, our hospital provides services with units equipped with advanced life support devices. Reanimation procedures are of great importance in preventing complications that may develop before, during, or after surgery and in protecting the patient's health. Our expert team provides intensive care services at international standards to help critically ill patients hold on to life.

Which Conditions and Processes Are Managed?

The anesthesiology and reanimation unit works in integration with all surgical branches. Additionally, the management and administration of the general intensive care unit are the responsibility of this department. The main conditions monitored and treated in our department include:

• Providing respiratory support with ventilators for patients with respiratory failure.
• Administering supportive drug therapy for organ failures such as heart, lung, and liver.
• Planning nutritional therapy intravenously or via a gastric tube with special nutrients.
• Caring for patients admitted with brain hemorrhage or who are unconscious in the life support unit.
• Treating patients with life-threatening conditions following traffic accidents, injuries, and severe traumas.
• Monitoring patients experiencing pre-eclampsia (pregnancy poisoning) before and after childbirth.
• Treating patients with severe bleeding through fluid and blood replacement.
• Monitoring critically ill patients requiring close observation after surgery.
• Treating medical and chemical drug poisonings under intensive care conditions.

Preoperative Evaluation and Diagnostic Methods

The first step of a safe surgical process begins with a comprehensive preoperative anesthesia examination. This evaluation is a critical stage for determining the most appropriate anesthesia method for you and minimizing risks during the operation.

Anesthesia Outpatient Clinic Process

After your surgery is planned, you will be directed to our anesthesia outpatient clinic. During this process, the following steps are meticulously applied:

1. Performing Necessary Tests: Depending on the patient's age, existing illnesses, and the scale of the planned surgery, tests such as blood tests, electrocardiography (ECG), and chest X-rays are requested. If test results are unsuitable for anesthesia, consultations are requested from relevant branch physicians.
2. Anesthesia Consent and Information: Our physician will question your medical history (anamnesis) in detail. You will be given detailed information about the anesthesia method to be used, potential risks, and the process. After all your questions are answered, your written anesthesia consent is obtained.
3. Fasting Period and Medication Adjustments: To prevent stomach contents from escaping into the lungs (aspiration) during surgery, you must remain without food and water for a certain period before the operation. Typically, an 8-hour fasting period is planned for solid foods, with a shorter period for clear liquids. Additionally, your physician will arrange how to take or when to stop your regular medications (blood pressure, diabetes, blood thinners, etc.) on the morning of the surgery.

Treatment Methods and Applications

In our department, different anesthesia methods are applied depending on the patient's health status and the nature of the surgical procedure. There are basically three types of anesthesia:

• General Anesthesia: A method where the patient's consciousness is completely turned off, the sensation of pain is eliminated, and the muscles are relaxed. It is preferred in major surgical operations for patients other than those with respiratory problems or severe heart-lung diseases.
• Regional Anesthesia: A method where only the area to be operated on is numbed, and the patient remains conscious. It is frequently applied in surgeries involving the lower half of the body (hip and knee replacements, inguinal hernia, bladder surgeries). Spinal and epidural anesthesia are the most common types in this group.
• Local Anesthesia: The process of numbing a very limited area, such as removing moles or stitching small cuts on the body. It is preferred only for minor surgical interventions.

Our Specialized Anesthesia Services

Specific applications aimed at increasing your comfort are also successfully performed in our hospital:

• Painless Childbirth Anesthesia (Epidural): A method that allows the expectant mother to comfortably complete the normal delivery process without feeling pain, but while still feeling the contractions. With painless childbirth anesthesia, the mother remains awake during delivery and can hold her baby immediately.
• Postoperative Pain Management (Patient-Controlled Analgesia): Controlling the pain that may be experienced after surgery accelerates the healing process. Thanks to Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) devices, you can ensure a safe dose of painkiller is administered through your IV line by pressing a button when you feel pain. In this way, postoperative pain management is entirely personalized to your needs and within safe limits.

Technology and Team

Successful anesthesia management requires the harmonious work of advanced technology and an experienced team. In our hospital, which stands out in the field of Istanbul anesthesiology and reanimation, our operating rooms and intensive care units are equipped with the latest medical devices. Tema hospital anesthesia processes are managed by our expert and experienced medical staff, including Assist. Prof. Betül TEZER, Specialist Dr. Nalan Muhammedoğlu, Specialist Dr. Meral Altaş Erdurak, Specialist Dr. Murad Özsoy, and Specialist Dr. Firdovsi ALİZADE. Our BHT clinic anesthesia doctors and Istanbul anesthesiologist team always prioritize patient safety and provide services at international standards.

When Should You Visit Us?

Your path generally crosses with the Anesthesiology and Reanimation department when a surgical operation is planned. You will need the expertise of our department in the following situations:

• When a decision for surgery is made in any branch (for preoperative evaluation).
• When you want to experience a painless and comfortable normal childbirth process.
• When pain control planning is required in the postoperative period.
• In emergencies where your relatives need respiratory support or intensive care treatment.

Appointment and Examination Process

If you have a planned surgery, you need to apply to our anesthesia outpatient clinic for preoperative evaluation with the referral of your surgeon. On your examination day, having all your previous test results and a list of the medications you use with you will speed up the process. To plan a safe surgical process and consult with our specialist physicians, you can book an appointment. You can get detailed information 24/7 through our call center and easily schedule your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the recovery time after general anesthesia?

The recovery time after general anesthesia varies depending on the type of anesthesia medications used, the duration of the surgery, and the patient's metabolic rate. Usually, within 10-15 minutes after the surgery ends and the anesthesia gases are stopped, the patient begins to regain consciousness. The complete awakening and transfer to the ward take place after 45-60 minutes of observation in the recovery room.

What is the difference between local and general anesthesia?

General anesthesia is a condition where the patient is completely put to sleep, unconscious, and feels no pain; it is preferred for major surgeries. Local anesthesia is a method where the patient is fully conscious, and only a small area to be intervened on (for example, the area where a mole will be removed) is numbed.

Does painless childbirth (epidural) harm the baby?

No, epidural anesthesia does not harm the baby when administered in the correct doses by specialist physicians. Since the medications are applied directly to the space around the spinal cord, the amount that mixes with the blood and reaches the baby is almost non-existent. On the contrary, since the mother's pain stress will decrease, the amount of oxygen going to the baby can be positively affected.

Why do I need to fast before surgery?

Under anesthesia, the body's protective reflexes (such as swallowing and coughing) are lost. If there is food or drink in the stomach, the risk of these contents coming back through the esophagus and escaping into the lungs (aspiration) during anesthesia creates a life-threatening situation. For this reason, complete fasting and abstinence from water for the specified period before surgery are mandatory.

What is patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)?

Patient-controlled analgesia is a safe method used in postoperative pain management. Thanks to a special pump device connected to the patient, when pain is felt, the patient presses a button to receive a safe dose of painkiller, pre-set by the physician, through the IV line. The device is extremely safe as it is programmed to prevent the set dose from being exceeded.