At Unity Health, we're proud to say we have a skilled team of board-certified surgeons who specialize in a wide variety of procedures. Whether you're bringing a new baby into the world via C-section or replacing a worn-out knee, it's good to know you don't need to go far from home to find experienced care.
Anesthesia: True or false?
Anesthesia, or anesthetics, blocks all feeling and can help you get through medical procedures without pain—and, often, without awareness.
While "going under" may be common, how much do you know about anesthesia?
True or false: Ether was the first anesthetic successfully used to put people under for surgery.
True. In 1846, a dentist demonstrated how ether fumes could be used to knock people out during surgery.
True or false: General anesthetics allow you to become unconscious and can only be delivered by gas.
False. General anesthesia does knock you out so that you have no awareness or sensations during surgery. But these drugs can be injected into your bloodstream or inhaled as a gas.
True or false: Getting anesthesia always means becoming unconscious.
False. Some anesthetics can be given with or without sedation, so you can stay awake. A local anesthetic numbs only a small part of your body, such as a tooth or a finger. A regional anesthetic helps numb larger areas and is delivered through a cluster of nerves.
True or false. General anesthetics that are inhaled wear off faster than those that are injected into veins.
False. Inhaled anesthetics take longer to wear off than those given through the veins. Intravenous anesthetics disappear from the bloodstream quickly, allowing patients to go home sooner after surgery.
True or false: Anesthesiologists are medical doctors.
True. Anesthesiologists have a medical degree. They also have to complete a four-year residency in anesthesiology.
Are you scheduled for a medical procedure or surgery? Ask your doctor what kind of anesthesia you can expect to have.
Expert surgeons close to home
Our surgical team includes general surgeons with expertise in elective and emergency procedures, surgeons who specialize in trauma care, and surgeons skilled in using the da Vinci robotic surgery system for complex, minimally invasive procedures.
Not all specialties are offered at every location. If you're referred for a surgical procedure, your surgeon will review the operation thoroughly with you beforehand. The least invasive surgery will always be considered first whenever possible.
Our team of surgical experts includes physicians board-certified in the following areas:
- Cardiology
- General surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat procedures)
- Pediatric surgery
- Podiatry
- Pulmonology
- Urology
Procedures we perform
Our surgeons perform a variety of surgical procedures and diagnostic exams, including:
- Appendectomy
- Breast surgery
- Cholecystectomy
- Colonoscopy
- Colon surgery
- Cyst and mass removal
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
- Hemorrhoid surgery
- Hernia repair
- Liver biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- Tracheostomy
- Ulcer surgery
- Vasectomy (Not available at Unity Health Harris Medical Center)
Robotic surgery and advanced technology
At Unity Health in Searcy, surgical suites are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology, many times including the da Vinci robotic surgery system and advanced navigational bronchoscope.
Our da Vinci robotic surgery system means we are able to take a minimally invasive approach to some of our procedures. This method of surgery can often minimize scarring and make for a shorter recovery period. Your surgeon can let you know if your operation can be performed with minimally invasive techniques.