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The Department of Anesthesiology at Apollo Hospitals, Gurugram, supports patients before, during and after surgery and other procedures. Anesthesiologists assess medical risks, plan the type of anesthesia, monitor vital functions throughout the procedure and manage pain and recovery afterward.
Care may involve general anesthesia, spinal or epidural anesthesia, regional nerve blocks, monitored anesthesia care or a combination of techniques. The plan is based on the procedure, the patient's age and health, airway assessment, current medicines, previous experiences with anesthesia and personal preferences where clinically appropriate.
Anesthesiologists work closely with surgeons, physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians, cardiologists, pulmonologists, intensivists and nursing teams. This is particularly important for children, older adults, pregnant women, people undergoing major surgery and patients with heart, lung, kidney or other medical conditions. The department may also support critical care, emergency airway management and acute or chronic pain services.
Our Anesthesiology Team
Anesthesia care at Apollo Hospitals, Gurugram, is provided by consultant anesthesiologists supported by trained operating room, recovery and critical care teams. Areas of practice may include cardiac, neuro, pediatric, obstetric, transplant and regional anesthesia, as well as critical care and pain medicine. High-risk or complex cases are planned with the relevant surgical and medical specialists.
Our specialists include:
- Perioperative Risk Conditions
- Acute Pain
- Chronic Pain
Perioperative Risk Conditions
- Difficult airway: Some people may be harder to ventilate or intubate because of limited mouth opening or neck movement, certain jaw or airway features, obesity, previous neck surgery or radiation, or a history of difficult intubation. Identifying this before anesthesia allows the team to prepare an appropriate airway plan.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Repeated narrowing or closure of the airway during sleep can increase sensitivity to sedatives and opioid pain medicines and may affect monitoring after surgery. Patients should tell the team if they use CPAP or another airway device at home.
- Heart and lung conditions: Heart disease, heart failure, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other cardiopulmonary conditions may affect anesthesia and recovery. Assessment focuses on current symptoms, stability, functional capacity and the demands of the planned procedure.
- Diabetes, high blood pressure and endocrine conditions: These conditions may affect medication instructions, fluid management and the timing of surgery. Certain diabetes medicines, including SGLT2 inhibitors, may need to be stopped several days before planned surgery, but patients should follow individualized instructions from their care team.
- Kidney or liver disease: Reduced kidney or liver function can change how the body handles anesthetic and pain medicines and may affect fluid balance, bleeding risk and postoperative monitoring.
- Obesity, frailty and older age: These factors can affect airway management, medicine doses, positioning, temperature control, recovery and the risk of postoperative confusion or loss of mobility. Planning is based on the individual rather than age or weight alone.
- Anemia and bleeding risk: Low hemoglobin, low platelet counts, clotting disorders and blood-thinning medicines may influence the timing of surgery, blood management and whether spinal, epidural or certain nerve block techniques are suitable.
Acute Pain
- Pain after surgery: Pain treatment is planned according to the procedure and the patient's health. A combination of medicines, local anesthetic techniques and non-drug measures can help patients breathe deeply, cough, sleep and begin moving safely.
- Labor pain: Epidural analgesia is one option for managing pain during labor. Medicines are given through a small catheter in the back and can be adjusted as labor progresses.
- Pain after injury: Regional nerve blocks and other pain treatments may be used for selected fractures or injuries, particularly when limiting systemic opioid medicines would be helpful.
Chronic Pain
- Low back and radiating leg pain: Persistent pain may arise from several structures, including discs, joints, muscles or irritated nerve roots. Treatment is guided by the clinical assessment and imaging when indicated.
- Neuropathic pain: Pain caused by nerve injury or disease may feel burning, electric, shooting or tingling. Examples include diabetic neuropathy, pain after shingles and trigeminal neuralgia.
- Cancer-related pain: Pain may result from the cancer itself or its treatment. Care can include medicines, rehabilitation, psychological support and selected nerve or plexus procedures, coordinated with the oncology and palliative care teams.
- Musculoskeletal and joint pain: Persistent pain involving joints, muscles or connective tissues is assessed to identify the likely source and determine whether rehabilitation, medication or a targeted procedure may help.
- Complex regional pain syndrome: This condition can cause persistent pain, swelling, temperature or color changes and marked sensitivity after an injury or operation. Early assessment and a coordinated rehabilitation plan are important.
- General anesthesia
- Spinal anesthesia
- Epidural anesthesia and analgesia
- Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia
- Peripheral nerve blocks
- Monitored anesthesia care and sedation
- Obstetric anesthesia
- Pediatric anesthesia and sedation
- Postoperative pain management
- Interventional pain procedures
- Critical care and airway management
- Enhanced recovery support
General anesthesia
Medicines produce a controlled state of unconsciousness. The anesthesiologist supports the airway and breathing as needed and continuously monitors oxygenation, ventilation, circulation and other relevant functions throughout the procedure.
Spinal anesthesia
Local anesthetic is injected into the fluid around the nerves in the lower back to numb the lower part of the body. It is commonly used for selected lower abdominal, pelvic, urological, obstetric and lower-limb procedures. Sedation may be given if appropriate.
Epidural anesthesia and analgesia
A thin catheter is placed in the back so that local anesthetic and other pain medicines can be given in repeated doses or continuously. Epidurals may be used during labor and for selected operations or postoperative pain plans.
Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia
This technique combines the rapid effect of a spinal injection with an epidural catheter that can extend or adjust anesthesia and pain relief.
Peripheral nerve blocks
Local anesthetic is placed near selected nerves to numb a particular area. Ultrasound may be used to guide the needle. The duration and expected benefits depend on the medicine, block and procedure, and temporary weakness or numbness may continue while the block is working.
Monitored anesthesia care and sedation
Sedation can range from light relaxation to a deeper level of reduced awareness. The anesthesia professional monitors the patient and is prepared to support the airway, breathing or circulation if the depth of sedation changes or the procedure requires it.
Obstetric anesthesia
Services may include labor epidural analgesia, spinal or epidural anesthesia for cesarean birth and general anesthesia when clinically required.
Pediatric anesthesia and sedation
Techniques are adjusted for the child's age, size, health and procedure. Some children begin anesthesia by breathing anesthetic medicine through a mask, while others receive medicine through an intravenous line. The approach is chosen after assessment.
Postoperative pain management
Multimodal pain care combines medicines and, when appropriate, regional techniques such as nerve blocks or epidural analgesia. Patient-controlled analgesia may be used for selected patients who can understand and safely operate the device.
Interventional pain procedures
Options may include epidural injections, nerve root or facet procedures, radiofrequency treatment, trigger point injections and selected nerve or plexus blocks. The choice depends on the diagnosis, previous treatment, imaging and expected benefit.
Critical care and airway management
Anesthesia teams may provide emergency airway management, intubation, ventilation and resuscitation support within the hospital.
Enhanced recovery support
Anesthesiologists contribute to enhanced recovery pathways through appropriate fasting instructions, careful fluid management, prevention of nausea and hypothermia, multimodal pain relief and support for early eating and movement when clinically appropriate.
1
What does an anesthesiologist do?
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who assesses patients before a procedure, plans and administers anesthesia, monitors vital functions, manages pain and supports recovery. Some anesthesiologists also work in critical care, emergency airway management or pain medicine.
2
Will I feel pain during surgery?
The anesthesia plan is intended to prevent pain during the procedure. With spinal, epidural or nerve block anesthesia, pressure or movement may still be felt even when the area is numb. Tell the team immediately if you feel pain or marked discomfort so they can assess the block and adjust the plan.
3
Is anesthesia safe?
Modern anesthesia is generally safe, but no medical procedure is free of risk. The likelihood and type of complications depend on the patient's health, the procedure, whether surgery is planned or urgent and the anesthesia technique. The anesthesiologist will discuss risks that are relevant to the individual patient.
4
Why must I stop eating and drinking before anesthesia?
Food or liquid in the stomach can enter the lungs during anesthesia or deep sedation. For many healthy adults having an elective procedure, clear liquids may be allowed until about two hours beforehand and solid food requires a longer fasting period. Instructions vary with age, procedure and medical conditions, so follow the timings given by the hospital rather than applying a general rule on your own.
5
Which is better, general or spinal anesthesia?
Neither is better for every patient or procedure. The choice depends on the operation, medical history, airway, expected pain, contraindications and patient preference. In some cases, techniques are combined.
6
Can I wake up during general anesthesia?
Accidental awareness during general anesthesia is rare, but it can occur. The anesthesiologist continuously assesses the patient and adjusts medicines throughout the procedure. Tell the team before surgery about any previous awareness, regular medicines, alcohol use or recreational drug use, as these can affect the anesthesia plan.
7
What side effects can occur after anesthesia?
Temporary nausea, drowsiness, shivering, dizziness, itching, sore throat or discomfort at an injection site can occur, depending on the technique and medicines used. The team assesses individual risk and may give preventive or treatment medicines.
8
How long does recovery from general anesthesia take?
Many people wake soon after the procedure, but coordination, judgment and concentration can remain affected for up to 24 hours. After day-care anesthesia or sedation, follow the discharge instructions, arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you and avoid driving, alcohol, machinery, important decisions and legal documents for the period advised by the team.
9
Can spinal or epidural anesthesia cause back pain or paralysis?
Mild soreness at the injection site can occur. Spinal and epidural anesthesia are not generally associated with long-term back pain. Serious complications such as infection, bleeding around the spine or permanent nerve injury are rare, and the team checks for factors that may increase these risks before recommending the technique.
10
Does a labor epidural increase the chance of cesarean birth?
Current evidence does not show that epidural analgesia increases the likelihood of cesarean birth. Epidurals do not always provide complete pain relief, and the catheter may occasionally need adjustment or replacement.
11
Is anesthesia safe for children?
Anesthesia can be given safely to children when it is planned and delivered with age-appropriate equipment, monitoring and doses. The anesthesiologist considers the child's health, recent illness, fasting status and procedure and discusses the expected benefits and risks with the parent or guardian.
12
Should I stop my regular medicines before surgery?
Do not stop medicines without instructions. Some should continue, while blood thinners, certain diabetes medicines and some supplements may need to be paused. Bring a complete list of prescription, nonprescription and herbal products to the pre-anesthesia assessment.
13
What should I tell the anesthesiologist before surgery?
Mention allergies, previous anesthesia problems, difficult intubation, loose teeth or dental work, sleep apnea or CPAP use, pregnancy, recent illness, smoking, alcohol or recreational drug use and every medicine or supplement you take.
14
When should I see a pain specialist?
Specialist assessment may help when pain persists beyond the expected healing period, affects sleep or daily function, has features of nerve pain, is related to cancer, or continues despite appropriate initial treatment. Severe new pain, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever or other red flags requires urgent medical assessment rather than a routine pain appointment.
15
How long does relief from a pain procedure last?
The response varies according to the diagnosis, procedure and individual patient. Some injections are used mainly to support diagnosis, while others may provide temporary or longer relief. A pain procedure is usually one part of a broader plan that may include medicines, physiotherapy and activity modification.
16
Do healthy patients still need a pre-anesthesia assessment?
Yes. Every patient needs an appropriate assessment before anesthesia, even when they feel well. The format and timing may vary from a questionnaire or screening review to a clinic appointment, depending on the patient and planned procedure.
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