No one wonders if your neurosurgeon or cardiologist is a real doctor. Yet many wonder about the qualifications of the person administering and monitoring anesthesia. The job is less high profile and your anesthesiologist is often in the background compared to the surgeon. So, while the question of “is an anesthesiologist a real doctor” may have a simple answer (yes!), the work itself is complex. It begins in medical school.
Becoming an Anesthesiologist
Prepare for the unexpected. It’s universally good advice but vital when it comes to complicated surgery. It’s doubtful there are many episodes of your favorite medical drama featuring the anesthesiologist. Chances are the surgeon gets all the lines, and the performer playing the anesthesiologist is probably a non-speaking extra. Yet just like the surgeon, an anesthesiologist attended a four-year medical school after university –– graduating as either a medical doctor (M.D.) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). During medical school, students prepare to enter a specialty. An anesthesiologist might focus on pediatrics, obstetrics, or critical-care medicine among others. In the United States, all anesthesiologists complete a four year residency after medical school, followed by an additional 1-2 years of specialty fellowship training.
So, it takes a minimum of 12 years of higher education to become a “real doctor.” And why? Because sometimes things go wrong. Having an expansive knowledge of the human body and medicine is necessary for those rare events. Because while anesthesia is safer than it has ever been, medical complications can happen, it falls to the anesthesiologist to determine what’s happening and how to save the patient’s life. It’s a lot like using highly trained pilots in airplanes that are primarily controlled by autopilot. Because the pilot has to be ready at a second’s notice to take control and safely maneuver the plane. Otherwise, tragedies can happen.
Described clearly by one medical school, “Anesthesiology is the discipline within the practice of medicine that specializes in the management of patients rendered unconscious or insensible to pain and stress during surgical, obstetric and certain other medical procedures.” On an online medical forum, one anesthesiologist put it more bluntly: “When patients say, ‘Oh, you’re the guy that’s going to keep me asleep,’ I usually reply, “That’s one of the things I do. I’m also going to keep you alive.”
One way anesthesiologists help keep patients safe is by meeting with them before an operation. If you’re going in for surgery, you’ll likely meet an anesthesiologist shortly before the procedure. You’ll discuss your medical history, allergies and lifestyle and a whole host of other issues that could complicate the administration of anesthesia. (heavy drug users, for instance, can be harder to sedate). The anesthesiologist will also inform you about what medicines to avoid along with when to abstain from food or liquids prior to surgery.
You will likely receive a sedative prior to surgery., Your anesthesiologist will also ensure that the monitors and all other equipment is working properly and that you’re connected to the devices that will report your vital signs during the operation. These devices include a pulse oximeter attached to your finger, toe, or earlobe to measure oxygen levels in your blood along with an inflatable blood pressure cuff strapped to your upper arm. Working either alone or as part of an anesthesia care team, your anesthesiologist will keep track of both the anesthesia and your bodily functions along with managing your pain throughout surgery. Their training also allows them to handle medical issues that could occur––especially ones related to chronic health problems like cardiac issues, asthma, and diabetes.
Afterward, the anesthesiologist will join you in the recovery room–-supervising a team of medical professionals as they track your vital signs along with your level of consciousness. They are usually the ones who decide when you are ready to go home (although you should avoid driving an automobile or making serious decisions for a day or two after surgery). Anesthesiologists also follow up on surgery patients to make sure there aren’t any postoperative complications related to the anesthesia. As is the case with surgery, these types of complications are extremely rare.
Anesthesiologist and Anesthetists
Not every anesthesiologist delivers anesthesia in an operating room setting.. As many countries face aging populations, anesthesiologists who are trained in pain management will be increasingly important. Besides assisting the elderly, they can also work with migraine sufferers, those undergoing cancer treatment, and anyone who faces potentially debilitating pain issues.
Anesthesia is not just overseen by doctors. Following four years of university and a 2-3 graduate program, a nurse can also specialize in anesthesia. In some states they may work independently or under a care team model under the direct supervision of a physician anesthesiologist. They also work in outpatient care and doctors’ offices, sometimes assisting dentists or surgeons.
Written by John Bankston
References
- How Safe Is Anesthesia? 5 Common Concerns
- Anesthesiology
- The Path to a Safe Surgery: Preparing for Anesthesia Begins With You
- Monitoring During Anesthesia
- Role of the Physician Anesthesiologist
- Impact Of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, And Physician Assistants On Utilization And Costs For Complex Patients
