What is the role of the Anesthesiologist and why bother choosing your Anesthesiologist?
A common misconception is that an anesthesiologist is the doctor who “puts patients to sleep” before surgery. It’s true that this is part of their job, but it’s only a small part! Your critical or vital life functions during your surgery like breathing, heart-brain- kidney function, level of pain and consciousness for a safe, painless and successful surgery are the primary responsibilities of your Anesthesiologist.An anesthesiologist is actually a perioperative physician, where “peri” means all-around. So, an anesthesiologist is responsible for patient care throughout the whole surgical experience: before, during, and after the surgery itself. An anesthesiologist also has many responsibilities outside of the surgical suite (operating room).
Click on each section below for more information on the role an anesthesiologist plays throughout surgery:
Before Surgery
The anesthesiologist will complete a preoperative evaluation before the patient goes into surgery. Depending on the type of surgery to be performed and the nature of the case, emergency vs elective (non-emergent), they might ask questions about patient history, any previous experience with anesthesia, conduct a physical examination, and review laboratory test results. In all cases, the goal is to ensure that the surgery is performed in the safest manner possible. The preoperative evaluation will be as thorough as required to make this determination. Based on this individual patient assessment and the type of surgery to be performed, the anesthesiologist will devise an anesthetic plan for the patient’s surgery. This may include general anesthesia (putting the patient to sleep), and/or a regional nerve block (numbing the affected extremity for surgery or for pain management after surgery).
During Surgery
In the operating room, the anesthesiologist is responsible for patient safety and well-being throughout the surgery. Per the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the primary roles of anesthesiologist during surgery are to:
- Provide continual medical assessment of the patient
- Monitor and control the patient’s vital life functions, including heart rate and rhythm, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature and body fluid balance
- Control the patient’s pain and level of consciousness to make conditions ideal for a safe and successful surgery
Anesthesiologists are trained extensively to understand patient needs and to make the best decisions for their overall health and safety.
After Surgery
After surgery, the patients are taken to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit or Intensive Care Unit, where specialized nurses, anesthesiologists or other physicians will continue to monitor the patient’s condition and the effects of anesthesia. They will also take steps to ensure that any pain resulting from surgery is minimized.
Outside of Surgery – Pain Management
Anesthesiologist are trained to manage pain during and after surgery. Surgical pain, or pain following an injury, is commonly known as acute pain. This is pain that usually resolves over time as the body heals. Pain that persists longer than expected, is known as chronic pain. Chronic pain can be related to trauma, such as a nerve injury, or a disease process such as cancer or diabetes. Some anesthesiologists take an additional year of specialized training and become board certified in Pain Medicine. They are uniquely qualified to manage and help patients with acute and chronic pain.
Types of Anesthesia
The goal of anesthesia is to administer medications through various techniques to assure your comfort and safety during a surgical procedure. He or she will maintain constant monitoring and vigilance to assess your response to both the surgery and anesthetic.
General anesthesia
General anesthesia is achieved through a combination of intravenous medications injected through an IV in your vein and/or inhalational agents (gases) you will breathe through a mask or breathing tube. General anesthesia provides a total loss of consciousness and pain control so you will not be aware of sensation or pain during your procedure. It is the most common type of anesthesia technique.
Regional anesthesia
Regional anesthesia blocks pain to a specific area of your body. Your anesthesia clinician injects medication near a targeted nerve, cluster of nerves or the spinal cord. You may also receive medication to help you relax during your procedure. Two main types of regional anesthesia are:
- Peripheral nerve blocks: This type of block targets a specific nerve or group of nerves most commonly for procedures on hands, arms, feet, legs or face.
- Epidural or spinal anesthesia: This is an injection for nerves in the spinal canal that blocks pain for a large area of the body such as the abdomen, hips or legs.
MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care or Procedural/Conscious Sedation)
MAC involves IV medication to help you relax and reduce pain. You will not be completely “out” but can be very sleepy. For more detailed information on several anesthesia topics, visit the When Seconds Count website created by the American Society of Anesthesiologists: www.asahq.org/whensecondscount
