Dr. Elena Vasquez
MD · Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago
142 Five-Star
Reviews.
Zero Surprises.
The anesthesiologist whose hands you never see — but whose judgment you trust with your life. Dr. Vasquez has maintained a 4.97 aggregate rating across 142 post-procedure reviews.
"I didn't feel a thing — woke up mid-laugh."
— Laparoscopic CholecystectomyThe numbers don't
require interpretation.
Data sourced from post-procedure patient surveys, hospital records, and peer-reviewed benchmarks. Updated Q4 2025.
| Metric | Dr. Vasquez | Regional Avg. | National Avg. | vs. Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Patient Satisfaction | 97.8% | 88.2% | 85.4% | ▲ +9.6 |
| Adverse Event / Complication Rate | 0.3% | 1.9% | 2.4% | ▼ -1.6 |
| Pre-Op Explanation Clarity | 97% | 79% | 76% | ▲ +18.0 |
| Avg. Induction-to-Incision Time (min) | 6.2 | 9.8 | 11.3 | ▼ -36.0 |
| Post-Op Nausea Incidence | 4% | 18% | 22% | ▼ -14.0 |
| Pain Control Score (0–10 scale) | 1.4 | 3.1 | 3.8 | ▲ +17.0 |
| Patient Would Recommend (%) | 99% | 84% | 81% | ▲ +15.0 |
| Avg. Recovery Room Time (min) | 38 | 62 | 74 | ▼ -24.0 |
| Pediatric Case Satisfaction | 98% | 83% | 80% | ▲ +15.0 |
| Epidural First-Attempt Success | 96% | 81% | 78% | ▲ +15.0 |
* Complication and nausea rates: lower is better. All other metrics: higher is better.
Your Pre-Anesthesia
Guide is waiting.
14 pages. Plain language. Written by Dr. Vasquez for patients who want to walk into the OR informed, not anxious.
- What to expect on the day of surgery
- Fasting instructions (clear timeline by procedure type)
- Medications to pause — and when to pause them
- Questions to ask your anesthesiologist
- What to expect in the recovery room
- Signs to watch for in the 48 hours post-discharge
Download Your Guide
No spam. One email. Your guide, delivered immediately.
142 reviews.
Four kinds of trust.
Woke up mid-laugh, not mid-panic.
I've had three surgeries in my life. Dr. Vasquez is the first anesthesiologist who introduced herself the night before and called to check on me after.
— Marcus T., Spinal Fusion — Chicago, IL
"The pre-op conversation took ten minutes. Erased three weeks of anxiety."
Jennifer K.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
"I asked 14 questions. She answered 14 questions. No impatience."
David R.
Total Hip Replacement
"Zero nausea post-op. That alone is worth a five-star review."
Sandra M.
Hernia Repair
"Counted backward from ten, woke up counting forward from one."
Tom B.
Knee Arthroscopy
The epidural that changed the room.
She placed the epidural between contractions — I barely felt the needle. My husband cried. I think she did too, a little.
— Priya N., Labor Epidural — Evanston, IL
"First attempt, no repositioning. I was convinced it would take three tries."
Aisha W.
Labor Epidural, First Baby
"She explained exactly what I'd feel at each step. That honesty was everything."
Camille D.
C-Section under spinal block
"My birth plan included 'epidural within 20 minutes.' She beat that by twelve."
Rachel O.
Labor & Delivery, Second Child
"I've recommended her to every pregnant friend I have. That's seven people."
Maya S.
Unplanned C-Section
My six-year-old called her "the bubble doctor."
She brought a strawberry-scented mask and let my son choose his "dream flavor." He walked into that OR like he owned it.
— Kevin L., Parent — Pediatric Tonsillectomy
"She crouched down to my daughter's height. That detail said everything."
Lisa P.
Pediatric Ear Tube Surgery
"My son has autism. She read his intake notes. She was prepared."
Omar F.
Pediatric Hernia Repair
"She called us in recovery before the surgeon did. That's the kind of doctor she is."
Natalie B.
Pediatric Appendectomy
"The mask was strawberry. He still talks about it. He's eight."
Chris V.
Tonsil & Adenoid Removal
The colleague I always request by name.
In fifteen years of orthopedic surgery, I've worked with dozens of anesthesiologists. Dr. Vasquez is the only one I proactively request for complex cases.
— Dr. James Okafor, MD — Orthopedic Surgery, Northwestern
"Her induction times are consistently 30% faster than average. It adds up over a full OR day."
Dr. Sarah Chen
General Surgery, Rush University
"She communicates changes in real-time. No surprises, no delays."
Dr. William Torres
Cardiac Surgery Fellow
"Her pediatric complication rate is half the department average. The data doesn't lie."
Dr. Amara Diallo
Pediatric Surgery, Lurie Children's
"I trust her with my most anxious patients. That says everything."
Dr. Rebecca Stein
Gynecologic Oncology, Northwestern
Request a Pre-Op
Consultation
Dr. Vasquez personally reviews every consultation request. You'll hear back within one business day.