What does an anesthesiologist do? The unrecognized hero. 

In this article, we will cover the following points.

1. Introduction.
2. Public awareness about the anesthesiologist.
3. Why the public doesn’t know much about the anesthesiologist?
4. What does an anesthesiologist do?
5. Who is the anesthesiologist?
6. What types of anesthesia does an anesthesiologist provide?
7. What is the role of an anesthesiologist in managing chronic pain?
8. References.

1-Introduction.

The first concerns of anyone undergoing a surgical operation are: who is my surgeon, Then which hospital do I choose? Thinking that it’s the main parameters they have to investigate when it comes to their safety.

But most people don’t simply know that their safety before, during, and after the surgical operation is the responsibility of another man. The anesthesiologist. the unrecognized hero.

In this article will know who is the anesthesiologist, what does he do? why he is a hero and why is he unrecognized?

2-Public awareness about the anesthesiologist. 

Public awareness about anesthesiologists is relatively low in comparison to other medical specialties. In an Indian trial in 2017, only 32 % knew that the anesthesiologist is a doctor!!!!!

In another Korean trial, ONLY 13% knew that the anesthesiologist is the person who decides the operability time, And only 46 % knew that he is the person in charge of monitoring the patients' vital signs in the operation theatre. In Colombia and even in Australia trials are stating more or less similar results.

So the question now is……

3-Why the public doesn’t know much about the anesthesiologist?

Simply the skilled anesthesiologist is the one who succeeds in making everything regarding patients' safety and overall experience (before, during, and after the operation) smooth and barely recognized by the patient.

Patients only know about anesthesiologists when something goes wrong or unexpected.

 

Let me give you an example, How many times you traveled by plane? How many times did you think of your pilot? only when something went wrong, But when everything goes ok you probably had thought about your schedule, the movies you watched, or what you ate on your flight. The role of an anesthesiologist is the same as the pilot. Delivering you safely and Comfortable.

So let's jump to the main point in this article.

4-What does an anesthesiologist do?

According to the  American Society OF Anesthesiologists (ASA), The anesthesiologist is a trained medical doctor who is responsible on keeping the patient safe and comfortable before, during, and after surgery.

4.1-Before Surgery.

The Anesthesiologist assesses your general health condition. He asks you a detailed and diversified questions about your health conditions, Any chronic disease you may have like hypertension and diabetes. Also examining you and reviewing lab results, Answering all of your questions and after meeting with you and the surgeon he has the final decision regarding:

• Whether you are eligible for the surgery or not,
• Time of the surgery.
• type of the surgery ( General, Local or Regional anesthesia).

Also, he decides the time of your admission to the hospital before the surgery and monitors all your vital signs, and gives you all the essential medications to make sure that you fit the surgery.

4.2-During the surgery.

 The anesthesiologist closely monitors your vital signs, Assures you are having adequate analgesia and hypnosis, rapidly manages any uprising problem, and takes corrective actions.

4.3-After the surgery.

In the recovery room, he manages the team who is taking care of you and monitoring your:

• Recovery.
• Breathing and oxygenation.
• level of consciousness.
• Circulation,
• Vital organs status like heart, kidneys, liver, and brain.

He is also available for any immediate assistance if required, Ready to answer your questions and he is the one who decides when to leave the hospital.

So now we can answer this question.

5-Who is the anesthesiologist?

He is a trained doctor specialized in Anesthesia, Intensive care management, and Pain management.  The average anesthesiologist has from 12 to 14 years of education, from 12k to 16k hours of training.

He has to take very critical life-saving decisions in no time. He takes these decisions for a sedated non-complaining patient. So he has to have a profound knowledge in many medical specialties like:

• Cardiology (heart medicine).
• Hematology(Blood medicine).
• Nephrology (Kidney medicine).
• Hepatology (Liver medicine).
• Neurology(nervous system medicine).
• Pharmacology (the science of drug effect).
• Toxicology(the study of adverse effects).

6-What types of anesthesia does an anesthesiologist provide?

6.1 General Anesthesia:

For large operations like open hearts or brain surgeries. In general anesthesia, the patient is in the state of analgesia, amnesia, hypnosis, and complete skeletal muscle relaxation.

6.2 Conscious sedation.

In minimally invasive procedures and some dental procedures. The patient is conscious to some level with varying degrees. Also, he may or may not remember what occurred according to the degree of sedation.

6.3 Regional Anesthesia.

It means loss of sensation and ability to move a specific portion of the body. Most of the time it is the pelvic and lower limbs. it has two main techniques (Epidural & Spinal). Usually used in childbirth, lower limb orthopedic surgeries, and some urinary tract surgeries.

6.4 Local Anesthesia.

Numbing only a specific small area of the body. The patient is awake. it is used in some minor operations.

7-What is the role of an anesthesiologist in managing chronic pain?

Pain management is a relatively new branch in medicine. Started formally in the 1960s. The first medical journal dedicated to pain management was in the 1970s. This new branch emerged from the anesthesia umbrella. So Pain management physicians are anesthesiologists further specialized in this new branch.

 Chronic pain clinics are very important in chronic musculoskeletal pain, cancer pain, and many other types of pain.

 

Now I hope that you know who is the anesthesiologist and what does he do.

Don’t hesitate in leaving your comment, and sharing this article with anyone who doesn’t know the unrecognized hero.

Related topic:

How to control your fear of general anesthesia?

8-References.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5791437/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926994/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18020077/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2256208716000195

https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/anesthesia-101/role-of-physician-anesthesiologist/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5760261/