EXPERT
Dr. Susan K. Palmer, MD
Anesthesiologist
Dr. Susan Palmer is an anesthesiologist practicing in Portland, OR. Dr. Palmer 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. Palmer also might help manage pain after an operation.
51 years
Experience
Dr. Susan K. Palmer, MD
- Portland, OR
- Univ of Wi Med Sch, Madison Wi
- Accepting new patients
No results found
Can anesthesia cause memory issues?
Yes. Some drugs are specifically "amnestics", intended to prevent memories to be properly stored. The usual effect of sedatives and anesthetics is to cause memory loss for recent READ MORE
Yes. Some drugs are specifically "amnestics", intended to prevent memories to be properly stored. The usual effect of sedatives and anesthetics is to cause memory loss for recent events, for events during procedures, and for events immediately after procedures.
Do you pee under general anesthesia?
Urine is formed during general anesthesia, but the bladder will not empty unless the bladder overfills. If you are having a long surgery, the surgeon will drain your bladder during READ MORE
Urine is formed during general anesthesia, but the bladder will not empty unless the bladder overfills. If you are having a long surgery, the surgeon will drain your bladder during the surgery.
Is manipulation under anesthesia considered surgery?
Manipulation does not involve an incision, so it would be called a "procedure" not a surgery.
How long does a radial nerve block last?
The duration of any nerve block depends on which local anesthetic and what additional drugs are injected close to the nerve. For example, lidocaine alone usually lasts 1-2 hours; READ MORE
The duration of any nerve block depends on which local anesthetic and what additional drugs are injected close to the nerve. For example, lidocaine alone usually lasts 1-2 hours; however, bupivacaine with epinephrine and clonidine can last 6-10 hours.
What medication is used in a nerve block?
Nerve blocks are primarily done with local anesthetics such as lidocaine and bupivacaine. However, other classes of medications such as epinephrine, steroids, or narcotics are READ MORE
Nerve blocks are primarily done with local anesthetics such as lidocaine and bupivacaine. However, other classes of medications such as epinephrine, steroids, or narcotics are often added to prolong or intensify nerve blocks.
Does anesthesia cause respiratory depression?
It depends entirely on the type of anesthesia. Opioid pain meds like morphine all cause some respiratory depression, which is why patients need to be monitored postoperatively READ MORE
It depends entirely on the type of anesthesia. Opioid pain meds like morphine all cause some respiratory depression, which is why patients need to be monitored postoperatively if this type of med is used for pain control. Spinal anesthesia, and other blocks cause numbness but usually not respiratory depression
How long can numbness last after dental work?
NUMBNESS OF THE TOOTH ITSELF CAN LAST 2-12 HOURS. FACIAL NUMBNESS BEYOND THAT TIME PROBABLY REPRESENTS SOME DEGREE OF NERVE DAMAGE. DENTAL INJECTIONS ARE USUALLY MADE WITH SUPER READ MORE
NUMBNESS OF THE TOOTH ITSELF CAN LAST 2-12 HOURS. FACIAL NUMBNESS BEYOND THAT TIME PROBABLY REPRESENTS SOME DEGREE OF NERVE DAMAGE. DENTAL INJECTIONS ARE USUALLY MADE WITH SUPER FINE NEEDLES (WHICH CAUSE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INJECTION PAIN) AND DENTISTS CANNOT ALWAYS AVOID DOING SOME DAMAGE TO NERVES WITH THESE SUPER SHARP FINE NEEDLES. IF IN DOUBT ABOUT LONG-LASTING NUMBNESS, CALL YOUR DENTIST.
How to deal with negative side effects of dental anesthetic?
I doubt that your symptoms were all caused by anesthetics. Ask an anesthesiologist to review your dental treatment. Unfortunately, some dentists give patients anesthetics after READ MORE
I doubt that your symptoms were all caused by anesthetics. Ask an anesthesiologist to review your dental treatment. Unfortunately, some dentists give patients anesthetics after very little training.
What medications can be used to treat local anesthetic toxicity?
Intralipid is specific for lowering the systemic circulating level of most local anesthetics. Many other medications are used to treat the effects of localanesthetic toxicity. READ MORE
Intralipid is specific for lowering the systemic circulating level of most local anesthetics. Many other medications are used to treat the effects of localanesthetic toxicity.
Which anesthesia is better for C section?
For a scheduled, non-emergent, C/S spinal/epidural anesthesia is usually recommended. This technique allows you to be awake to bond with your baby right after birth, and the baby READ MORE
For a scheduled, non-emergent, C/S spinal/epidural anesthesia is usually recommended. This technique allows you to be awake to bond with your baby right after birth, and the baby is not made sleepy from a general anesthetic. You should have a consultation with a physician anesthesiologist to be sure that your individual health concerns are considered when making a recommendation for anesthetic technique.
How is anesthesia different from a ventilator?
Anesthesia means to make one insensitive to pain ("an" = without, "esthesia" means feeling). A ventilator is a machine which provides or assists a person's ventilation.
What kind of anesthesia is used for a breast biopsy?
Usual anesthesia technique is sedation by anesthesiologist plus local anesthesia by surgeon. If the procedure is going to be more extensive, regional blocks with injections near READ MORE
Usual anesthesia technique is sedation by anesthesiologist plus local anesthesia by surgeon. If the procedure is going to be more extensive, regional blocks with injections near the ribs or back can be used. Also, general anesthesia can be used.
Where is local anesthesia injected?
Local anesthesia is injected inthe "location" where numbness is needed. It can also be injected along the course of nerves which serve the "location" which needs to be numbed. READ MORE
Local anesthesia is injected inthe "location" where numbness is needed. It can also be injected along the course of nerves which serve the "location" which needs to be numbed.
Can someone with scoliosis get an epidural?
It depends in the type of scoliosis and the experience and skill of the physician anesthesiologist. Ask for a consultation with an obstetric anesthesiologist.
Is general anesthesia safe for a C-section?
Yes, it can be safe. However, it has some disadvantages which spinal or epidural anesthesia do not. Mother must have her airway protected by a tube into her lungs; the fetus may READ MORE
Yes, it can be safe. However, it has some disadvantages which spinal or epidural anesthesia do not. Mother must have her airway protected by a tube into her lungs; the fetus may be sleepy at birth; mother will not be able to see or hold her baby until she awakens; usually, fathers are not invited into to the OR when Mom is asleep.
What is the anesthetic of choice for a cardiac patient?
You need a full consultation with a physician anesthesiologist to determine what anesthetic choices you will have. It depends on exactly what your heart conditions are, exactly READ MORE
You need a full consultation with a physician anesthesiologist to determine what anesthetic choices you will have. It depends on exactly what your heart conditions are, exactly what surgery you are planning, and what other medical conditions you may have. Your surgeon should be able to refer you to an anesthesiologist or you can call the office of the director of
anesthesiology at your hospital or nearest university hospital.
anesthesiology at your hospital or nearest university hospital.
Does a laparoscopy require general anesthesia?
Yes, general anesthesia is almost always required. When your abdomen is inflated so, the surgeon can operate without making a large skin incision, you need breathing support.
Do babies get anesthesia for heart surgery?
Modern care for infant open heart surgery includes general anesthesia. 50 years ago, some anesthesiologist were concerned about giving normal doses of anesthesia. But now that READ MORE
Modern care for infant open heart surgery includes general anesthesia. 50 years ago, some anesthesiologist were concerned about giving normal doses of anesthesia. But now that infant heart surgery is frequently done, we have better ways of giving them general anesthesia and often can offer special techniques of post-operative pain relief.
Are you asleep during a vasectomy?
No. You may be prescribed some sedation, but usually only local anesthesia (local numbing) is used.
Can anesthesia cause breathing problems?
Yes, but it depends on what surgery you are having and how long you would be exposed to inhaled general anesthetics. For a healthy person the effects on respiration are almost READ MORE
Yes, but it depends on what surgery you are having and how long you would be exposed to inhaled general anesthetics. For a healthy person the effects on respiration are almost always insignificant.
