Re: Assistant surgeon present during surgery?

[Guest guest]

I'm still in the decision process of having the

surgery but met with the OS last week and he said

there would be an asst. surgeon in the surgery if I

went with him but it could be an insurance issue. The

insurance may state it wasn't necessary and then the

asst's fees wouldn't be covered.

Kim

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

When I had my upper/lower/genio, there was another doctor present. He

did my preop and was actually the senior resident at the hospital...

which is attatched to a local medical school. My surgeon " teaches " -

well I'm not sure in what capacity he works with the med school, but I

know that he gets a group of residents that work with him/train under

him. That is the only reason I am aware of why there was someone else

present for my surgery in that capacity..... He was only there to

observe, but he did do my pre-op and checked on me immediately after

the surgery until I was discharged from the hospital. Everything else

(like consults, post op appts, etc.) was taken care of by the surgeon.

I didn't speak with the anesthesiologist until the day of my surgery

either, but I definitely had a chance to speak with him and

communicate my concerns at that time. My bloodwork was done at the pre-

op though.... I guess if you do it the morning of, they are

anticipating it being fine.... I didn't donate my own blood either. By

my experience, sounds like everything is good to go for you! What is

your surgery date??

Katja

> Hi all,

>

> At my pre-op appointment the other day, I asked my surgeon if there

> would be an assistant surgeon present during my surgery. He

> said, " No, just me. " Should this concern me? I'm having upper and

> lower surgery (no TMJ surgery this time).

>

> It's interesting to note that I will be doing the bloodwork the

> morning of surgery, and will not be donating any of my own blood.

> Also, I have yet to meet the anesthesiologist. I guess I meet

him/her

> the morning of the surgery? (I forgot to ask my surgeon about this).

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> MTB

[Guest guest]

I'm sure there are differences in opinion with surgeons on whether or

not they have an assistant. After all, even if the surgeon does not

have an assistant, he still has his office nurses to help him out. My

OS chose to have an assistant surgeon help him. He has an office with

three other OS' who also perform surgeries, and one of those partners

was the assistant. I found this to be a very positive thing because I

had not one competant surgeon, but two. Last week when I was having

pain in my jaw, my OS was out of state. The assistant surgeon was

able to see me, we already knew eachother, and he already knew my

case. I had lower jaw only, and my insurance did not pay for any of

the OS' fees. My total cost of my surgery was $8500, which included

$1200 for the assistant. If you're concerned, talk to your OS.

Perhaps he has other doctors on call while he's in surgery in case

there's a problem.

Connie

> Hi all,

>

> At my pre-op appointment the other day, I asked my surgeon if there

> would be an assistant surgeon present during my surgery. He

> said, " No, just me. " Should this concern me? I'm having upper and

> lower surgery (no TMJ surgery this time).

>

> It's interesting to note that I will be doing the bloodwork the

> morning of surgery, and will not be donating any of my own blood.

> Also, I have yet to meet the anesthesiologist. I guess I meet

him/her

> the morning of the surgery? (I forgot to ask my surgeon about this).

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> MTB

[Guest guest]

Hi Mtb,

I had an assistant surgeon present during the surgery, there were a few other

Dr's there too but they were student Dr's. But I live in the UK.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks to Katja, Connie, and for the replies. My surgery is on

10/3/05 in Keene, NH.

MTB

> > Hi all,

> >

> > At my pre-op appointment the other day, I asked my surgeon if

there

> > would be an assistant surgeon present during my surgery. He

> > said, " No, just me. " Should this concern me? I'm having upper

and

> > lower surgery (no TMJ surgery this time).

> >

> > It's interesting to note that I will be doing the bloodwork the

> > morning of surgery, and will not be donating any of my own

blood.

> > Also, I have yet to meet the anesthesiologist. I guess I meet

> him/her

> > the morning of the surgery? (I forgot to ask my surgeon about

this).

> >

> > Thanks in advance,

> >

> > MTB

[Guest guest]

Hello MTB - I asked my OMS the very same question and I received the

very same response you did: " No, just me. " My OMS further explained

that he does have a C.S.T. (a Certified Surgical Technologist) help

him, and that she is very good. He also told me that one of his

Dental Assistants from his office also helps him in the O.R. He told

me that he is ambidextrous, and will be doing the incisions and

cutting with both hands, and therefore doesn't need the help of

another surgeon. Maybe your surgeon will have one of these C.S.T.'s

helping him; they are also known as a " non-physician first assistant "

by my hospital. I think using a C.S.T. also holds down operating room

costs as you wouldn't have to pay for an Assistant Surgeon. I went on

the web to get more info about this type of assistant and found two

websites with info: www.nsaa.net/surgicalassistant.shtml and

www.scrub-on.com/Learn_Surgical_First_Assistant.asp . I trust MY OMS

and if he doesn't need an assistant surgeon, then that's his

decision. I'm also having both upper and lower surgery done, next

summer. I will be donating two units of my own blood (my surgeon's

rule) although he says he has never had to use both pints. Also, the

type of anesthesia used is called Hypotensive Anesthesia, something

that your Anesthesiologist will be discussing with you. Good luck!

~~~~~~ Diane (Idaho)-- In

orthognathicsurgerysupport , " mtbmolly "

<mtbmolly@y...> wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> At my pre-op appointment the other day, I asked my surgeon if there

> would be an assistant surgeon present during my surgery. He

> said, " No, just me. " Should this concern me? I'm having upper and

> lower surgery (no TMJ surgery this time).

>

> It's interesting to note that I will be doing the bloodwork the

> morning of surgery, and will not be donating any of my own blood.

> Also, I have yet to meet the anesthesiologist. I guess I meet

him/her

> the morning of the surgery? (I forgot to ask my surgeon about

this).

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> MTB

[Guest guest]

Hello MTB - I asked my OMS the very same question and I received the

very same response you did: " No, just me. " My OMS further explained

that he does have a C.S.T. (a Certified Surgical Technologist) help

him, and that she is very good. He also told me that one of his

Dental Assistants from his office also helps him in the O.R. He told

me that he is ambidextrous, and will be doing the incisions and

cutting with both hands, and therefore doesn't need the help of

another surgeon. Maybe your surgeon will have one of these C.S.T.'s

helping him; they are also known as a " non-physician first assistant "

by my hospital. I think using a C.S.T. also holds down operating room

costs as you wouldn't have to pay for an Assistant Surgeon. I went on

the web to get more info about this type of assistant and found two

websites with info: www.nsaa.net/surgicalassistant.shtml and

www.scrub-on.com/Learn_Surgical_First_Assistant.asp . I trust MY OMS

and if he doesn't need an assistant surgeon, then that's his

decision. I'm also having both upper and lower surgery done, next

summer. I will be donating two units of my own blood (my surgeon's

rule) although he says he has never had to use both pints. Also, the

type of anesthesia used is called Hypotensive Anesthesia, something

that your Anesthesiologist will be discussing with you. Good luck!

~~~~~~ Diane (Idaho)-- In

orthognathicsurgerysupport , " mtbmolly "

<mtbmolly@y...> wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> At my pre-op appointment the other day, I asked my surgeon if there

> would be an assistant surgeon present during my surgery. He

> said, " No, just me. " Should this concern me? I'm having upper and

> lower surgery (no TMJ surgery this time).

>

> It's interesting to note that I will be doing the bloodwork the

> morning of surgery, and will not be donating any of my own blood.

> Also, I have yet to meet the anesthesiologist. I guess I meet

him/her

> the morning of the surgery? (I forgot to ask my surgeon about

this).

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

> MTB