How to Prepare for Anesthesia: What Your Team Will Ask and Why
The pre-anesthesia evaluation, what to bring, and how to talk about your medications before a procedure.
Before any anesthetic, your anesthesiologist performs a preanesthesia evaluation. The ASA's practice advisory identifies multiple sources of information: reviewing pertinent medical records, interviewing the patient, and performing a physical examination when appropriate, together with further tests or evaluation when indicated.1 At a minimum, the focused examination includes an assessment of the airway, lungs and heart, with vital signs documented.1
That is why you will be asked about your medical history, previous operations and any problem with anesthesia in your family, and why you may be examined and asked to breathe deeply. The ASA's basic standards for preanesthesia care also make the anesthesiologist responsible for determining your medical status, developing the plan of anesthesia care, and documenting it.2
What to bring and what to say
Bring a complete list of everything you take — prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements and alternative therapies. The advisory asks that treatments, including medications and alternative therapies used, be reviewed.1 Mention allergies, tobacco, alcohol or cannabis use, and snoring or sleep apnea.
Ask your anesthesiologist directly about food and drink before your procedure. Fasting instructions are individual: they depend on the procedure, your health and the anesthesiologist's assessment, and you will be told exactly when to stop eating and drinking. Follow those instructions rather than a general rule you find online.
Questions worth asking
What type of anesthesia is planned for me, and what are the alternatives? What will I feel during the procedure? What should I expect afterward, and who do I call if something concerns me at home? Who is providing my anesthesia, and what is their training?
Sources
- American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation: an updated report. Anesthesiology. 2012;116(3):522–538.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists. Basic Standards for Preanesthesia Care. Original approval October 14, 1987; last amended October 15, 2025.
Dr. John Seitz, MD
Board-certified anesthesiologist
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Always consult your physician for guidance specific to your health.