expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Steven McCornack

Anesthesiologist

Dr. Steven McCornack is an anesthesiologist practicing in Centerville, Ohio. Dr. McCornack ensures the safety of patients who are about to undergo surgery. Anestesiologists specialize in general anesthesia, which will (put the patient to sleep), sedation, which will calm the patient or make him or her unaware of the situation, and regional anesthesia, which just numbs a specific part of the body. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. McCornack also might help manage pain after an operation.
Dr. Steven McCornack
  • Centerville, Ohio
  • University of Health Sciences
  • Accepting new patients

What should you not do before local anesthesia?

My advice is to follow the same recommendations as if you were having a general anesthetic. Even if it is "only" a local procedure, you never know if you might have an adverse READ MORE
My advice is to follow the same recommendations as if you were having a general anesthetic. Even if it is "only" a local procedure, you never know if you might have an adverse reaction or the surgical case could take an unexpected turn. Assuming that you are otherwise healthy, there are plenty of places to find information on outpatient surgery protocols. I would suggest nothing by mouth the day of surgery, with the exception of clear liquids or water up to two hours prior to the procedure.
Good luck!

Does anesthesia take years off your life?

Based on our current knowledge, no. Obviously, sicker patients have more surgery so it is difficult to be certain. We know from the emergency surgery data that it appears to have READ MORE
Based on our current knowledge, no. Obviously, sicker patients have more surgery so it is difficult to be certain. We know from the emergency surgery data that it appears to have no measurable effect on longevity. We also know that you could expire prematurely from not having surgery. When considering a procedure, at least in the United States, we are required to inform you of the risks, benefits, and alternatives. Patients have autonomy and are allowed to make what we might consider ‘bad’ choices, but there do not appear to be any long term effects from anesthesia

Is anesthesia given during normal delivery?

Many patients in the United States get epidural analgesia for labor pain. Intravenous analgesia, inhalation analgesia (usually nitrous oxide), and even spinal analgesia (usually READ MORE
Many patients in the United States get epidural analgesia for labor pain. Intravenous analgesia, inhalation analgesia (usually nitrous oxide), and even spinal analgesia (usually narcotics) are also commonly used. It is your choice and your decision, and you may change your mind once the contractions begin

Can shoulder surgery be done without general anesthesia?

Shoulder surgery can be done with regional anesthesia, such as an interscalene block, with or without sedation. Most patients undergoing an interscalene block for shoulder surgery READ MORE
Shoulder surgery can be done with regional anesthesia, such as an interscalene block, with or without sedation. Most patients undergoing an interscalene block for shoulder surgery also have a general anesthetic or sedation for the surgical portion. The interscalene (or equivalent brachial plexus blocks) block is a nerve block with local anesthetic to numb the area of surgery

Is anesthesia given based on weight?

Anesthesia is administered by weight and then titrated to effect. If you are a small person, remind your anesthesia provider of how much you weigh before your surgery

Why does it take so long to wake up from anesthesia?

It depends on the choice of medications. Modern anesthetics are chosen for being short acting, but they all need time to be metabolized and/or excreted. The individual procedure READ MORE
It depends on the choice of medications. Modern anesthetics are chosen for being short acting, but they all need time to be metabolized and/or excreted. The individual procedure may dictate the anesthetic technique. For instance, a particular procedure or surgeon may require certain anesthetic conditions which need some time to get back to normal. Also, some medications may cause "retrograde amnesia'" or derail short-term memory. Patients will differ in how quickly they metabolize or exhale anesthetic agents and have different rates of emergence.

How long does urinary retention last after anesthesia?

Not all patients get urinary retention after anesthesia. There are some strategies to attempt to minimize the risk. Many hospitals and surgery centers have being able to void urine READ MORE
Not all patients get urinary retention after anesthesia. There are some strategies to attempt to minimize the risk. Many hospitals and surgery centers have being able to void urine (that is to say, no urinary retention) as a condition of discharge.

Can too much anesthesia cause heart issues?

Anesthesia is generally considered very safe. Most of our data on safety is taken from trauma patients who must endure multiple procedures after bad accidents. At normal levels, READ MORE
Anesthesia is generally considered very safe. Most of our data on safety is taken from trauma patients who must endure multiple procedures after bad accidents. At normal levels, most anesthetic agent are considered safe. Some can cause a small impairment of cardiac function which disappears when the agents are turned off or metabolized. If you are considering surgery and have concerns, ask your anesthesiologist

How much propofol do you need for conscious sedation?

Most dosing of medication is based on weight. Propofol, being a drug with a short half life, is often dosed by infusion at a specific rate and titrated for clinical effect. The READ MORE
Most dosing of medication is based on weight. Propofol, being a drug with a short half life, is often dosed by infusion at a specific rate and titrated for clinical effect. The total amount would vary by the size of the patient and the type and length of the surgery or procedure

Is dental anesthesia OK when pregnant?

Dental anesthesia may involve just local anesthetic (which is considered completely safe) or sedation with the local anesthetic. While sedation is not considered by some to be READ MORE
Dental anesthesia may involve just local anesthetic (which is considered completely safe) or sedation with the local anesthetic. While sedation is not considered by some to be completely safe, the truth is no one knows. In animal studies, high doses of some medications have been shown to cause birth defects at a given rate. In practical terms, it is very unlikely that normal anesthetic doses of medication would cause a problem. If you want to be completely safe you might wait until after delivery. Good luck!

How long does anesthesia affect your memory?

In general, you should feel pretty clear headed after anesthesia pretty quickly. Depending on whether you get sedation or general anesthesia it will take a short time for the medication READ MORE
In general, you should feel pretty clear headed after anesthesia pretty quickly. Depending on whether you get sedation or general anesthesia it will take a short time for the medication to be inactivated or cleared from your system. We recommend not driving, signing contracts, or taking a math test fir 24 hours because higher cognitive centers are the last to recover. Rarely, patients may experience some cognitive symptoms for a few days to a few weeks. This does not usually interfere with daily activities. Short term memory going to long term memory is definitely at risk until you are fully recovered. At your age and assuming no medical issues, it will be a very quick recovery. Good luck!

How many hours can you be under anesthesia?

Modern monitoring systems make anesthesia very safe ... even for long periods of time... most surgeries only last a few hours but occasionally there are procedures which last much READ MORE
Modern monitoring systems make anesthesia very safe ... even for long periods of time... most surgeries only last a few hours but occasionally there are procedures which last much longer. Liver transplant surgery, for example, may last over 24 hours. Also, sometimes patients are sedated or put into ‘induced comas’ for extended periods of time. This may be for hours or even days. Ideally, we assume that the less time under anesthesia the better, but long procedures can be done safely without apparent harm to the patient

What type of anesthesia is used for shoulder replacement?

You have different options. If you are otherwise healthy, one common approach is a pre-operative interscalene nerve block for post operative pain with a general anesthetic for READ MORE
You have different options. If you are otherwise healthy, one common approach is a pre-operative interscalene nerve block for post operative pain with a general anesthetic for the procedure. This approach would minimize the amount of narcotic and other medications needed during surgery and allow for same day discharge. Discuss your options with your anesthesia providers to determine what’s would be best for you. Good luck!

What does an anesthesiologist do for burn patients?

Because burn patients have frequent dressing changes, anesthesiologists are frequently involved in providing sedation or general anesthesia in order to mitigate or eliminate the READ MORE
Because burn patients have frequent dressing changes, anesthesiologists are frequently involved in providing sedation or general anesthesia in order to mitigate or eliminate the pain involved

Does twilight anesthesia require intubation?

I am always a little leery of the term ‘twilight anesthesia’ because it may mean different things to different people. In general, it is used to convey that a patient may be sedated READ MORE
I am always a little leery of the term ‘twilight anesthesia’ because it may mean different things to different people. In general, it is used to convey that a patient may be sedated but not under general anesthesia. Most likely it would NOT involve intubation because that would surely imply general anesthesia. Speak with your surgeon and anesthesia team if you have specific questions or concerns. Good luck!

How long does vomiting last after anesthesia?

There are anesthetic protocols which can minimize the risk of nausea and vomiting after anesthesia. There are also numerous medications which can be given to try to prevent nausea READ MORE
There are anesthetic protocols which can minimize the risk of nausea and vomiting after anesthesia. There are also numerous medications which can be given to try to prevent nausea and vomiting. In addition, techniques like spinal anesthesia or peripheral nerve blocks can reduce the risk. Be sure to discuss this with your anesthesia provider and surgeon to consider the alternatives. Good luck!

Does local anesthesia affect your heart?

Local anesthetics can affect the heart if given in large doses intravenously. Most local anesthetics are injected into tissue spaces and often include epinephrine to slow absorption READ MORE
Local anesthetics can affect the heart if given in large doses intravenously. Most local anesthetics are injected into tissue spaces and often include epinephrine to slow absorption into the vascular system. In any case, careful calculation and consideration to the ‘toxic’ dose of any given local anesthetic is given and calculated prior to any use of local anesthetics. Most uses of local anesthetic are well below limits where toxicity would come into play.

Does anesthesia affect your heart?

First of all, I would like to reassure you that general anesthesia is very safe. It does have a small but measurable depressant effect on heart function which in most cases is READ MORE
First of all, I would like to reassure you that general anesthesia is very safe. It does have a small but measurable depressant effect on heart function which in most cases is not considered detrimental. You will be fully monitored the entire time you are under the effects of anesthesia. If there are any issues with measures of heart function such as heart rhythm, blood pressure, or heart rate you would be given medication through the intravenous line to quickly correct the problem. Good luck with your surgery!

How long does epidural anesthesia last?

One advantage of epidural anesthesia is that most often a catheter is placed in the epidural space for a continuous infusion. Depending on the local anesthetic selected and the READ MORE
One advantage of epidural anesthesia is that most often a catheter is placed in the epidural space for a continuous infusion. Depending on the local anesthetic selected and the rate of infusion, the anesthetic effects are titratable to fit the clinical situation. Typically, if the epidural is for labor pain, the infusion will be stopped after delivery. If substantial pain after delivery is anticipated (such as after a cesarean section), the infusion can be continued for pain relief as long as needed.

Can anesthesia cause blurry vision?

Many of the medications used in anesthesia may cause blurry vision temporarily. If you have a general anesthetic, some providers will put a moisturizing goop in your eyes to prevent READ MORE
Many of the medications used in anesthesia may cause blurry vision temporarily. If you have a general anesthetic, some providers will put a moisturizing goop in your eyes to prevent drying of the cornea. The typical anesthetic medications are normally quickly metabolized and your vision should return to normal