Have you ever been told by a doctor that you need to have an operation , that is, a surgery? When we hear that, the first thing that comes to our mind is a little fear, right? “Will it hurt?”, “How long will it take?” Many questions come to mind. But what most people fear most is “being put to sleep.” So who is the person who carefully watches us during this operation, makes us feel no pain, and puts us to sleep? That is the specialist we are going to talk about today.
Who is this anesthesiologist?
Simply put, an anesthesiologist is a specialist who gives you the necessary medication to make you feel no pain during surgery, and if necessary, keeps you asleep until the surgery is over.
But their duties are not limited to the operating theatre. Imagine you have a chronic back problem or severe pain due to a medical condition like cancer. These specialists can also help control pain in such cases. Not only that, but anesthesiologists also intervene to help you manage that pain when you go home after surgery.
They are not just people who put us to sleep, but rather our lifeguards who protect us throughout the surgery, monitoring everything from our heartbeat , breathing , and blood pressure down to the last millimeter.
So what is this anesthesia?
Anesthesia is a medical treatment that prevents you from feeling pain. It is used during surgeries, tests like biopsies , and even dental treatments like tooth extractions. The drugs used for this treatment are called anesthetics.
There are several ways to introduce this anesthetic into our body.
| Delivery method | A simple description |
|---|---|
| An intravenous injection (IV) | Injecting medicine into your vein through a cannula. |
| Inhalation | Giving it to you as a gas to breathe through a mask. |
| Local Anesthesia | It can be a cream applied to the skin, a patch, or eye drops. |
The field of Anesthesiology
This is a branch of medicine that deals with anesthesia, pain management , and the management of some life-threatening emergencies . It also has several subspecialties.
- Cardiac anesthesia
- Neuroanesthesia (brain and spinal cord)
- Obstetric anesthesia
- Pediatric anesthesia
- Pain management
- Emergency surgery (Critical care medicine)
How much training is needed to become an anesthesiologist?
This is a really important question. An anesthesiologist is someone who has undergone very high levels of training. This journey takes about 12 to 14 years . Just think…
1. A general degree takes 4 years.
2. Then 4 years of medical school.
3. Internship period is one year.
4. 3 years of specialist training (residency) in anesthesia.
5. Then, if you wish, receive special training (Fellowship) in another sub-field for another 1-2 years.
All told, an anesthesiologist has between 12,000 and 16,000 hours of training . So remember that you are entrusting your life to such a highly trained specialist.
What are the anesthesia methods?
Anesthesiologists use different methods to relieve your pain. The method depends on the type of surgery you are having.
| Anesthesia method | What happens with this? |
|---|---|
| General Anesthesia | This puts you completely asleep until the surgery is over. It's used in major surgeries. You're unconscious, you're not in pain. |
| Sedation | You're relaxed. You might be light-headed, or you might be slightly intoxicated. But you won't remember exactly what happened. |
| Regional Anesthesia | Only the part of the body where the surgery is being performed is numbed. For example, an epidural given during childbirth is like this. |
| Local Anesthesia | It only tingles a very small area. Like having your gums tingled to extract a tooth. You're fully awake, but you don't feel any pain. |
| Nerve Block | This is also a regional anesthetic. It temporarily blocks a nerve that carries sensation to a specific part of the body, eliminating pain. |
When will you meet the anesthesiologist?
Your anesthesiologist and possibly a nurse anesthetist will be with you before, during, and after your surgery to make sure you are comfortable, relaxed, and safe.
Before surgery
You may meet with the anesthesiologist a few days before your surgery. Or you may meet with him or her right before the surgery. At this time, the doctor will ask you the following questions:
- Your complete medical history and any medical conditions that may affect anesthesia, such as diabetes and heart disease.
- Do you have any allergies to medications ?
- What medications and vitamins are you currently taking ?
- Discussing the surgery you are going to have and planning the most appropriate anesthesia method.
- Answering any question you have in mind.
Don't be afraid to ask any questions or concerns you may have at this time. Don't forget to mention any medications you may be taking.
During surgery
You may be given a sedative to relax you. Then the anesthesiologist will put you to sleep and give you painkillers. If you are having general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist will be with you from the start of the surgery until the end. He or she will monitor everything from your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. He or she will also adjust the level of anesthesia if necessary.
After the surgery
After you are taken to the recovery room, the anesthesiologist will check your vital signs again. He or she will monitor you until you are fully conscious and there are no problems with the anesthesia.
You may experience side effects such as nausea and chills. The doctor will also give you the necessary medication for these. The anesthesiologist will also help decide if it is safe to send you home.
Take-Home Message
- An anesthesiologist is not just someone who puts you to sleep. He or she is a highly trained specialist who manages your safety, pain control, and all of your vital functions during surgery.
- There are several anesthesia methods that are suitable for the surgery you are having and your health condition.
- When you meet with the anesthesiologist before surgery, it is very important to be honest about your health, medications, and allergies.
- Don't be afraid to discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your anesthesiologist. This will further enhance your safety.
- Pain management is a key role of an anesthesiologist, so you can also talk to him or her about pain after surgery.
Anesthesia, Anesthesiologist, Anesthesia, Surgery, Operation, Painkillers, Pain Management, General Anesthesia, Local Anesthesia
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න