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What do anesthesiologists do? What are their responsibilities?
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Fred’s Answer
I am not a doctor. I worked in the IT department of a Healthcare organization, and worked with anesthesiologists for a while, so I know some stuff, but don't take what I say as gospel.
From what I have seen, they meet with patients pre-surgery and get a short history. Have they had anesthesia before, how did they react to it, do they have sleep apnea, etc. Then, they administer drugs to put the patient to sleep. Often, they intubate the patient - they put the breathing tube down the throat and into the lungs. They monitor the patient throughout the surgery, making sure they stay asleep, but don't go too far down. They constantly check vitals (via monitors), giving more drugs as necessary. I have never seen it happen, but I'm told that if the patient codes (heart stops), they are the first to know, and are the ones who will then provide CPR.
Once surgery is over, they extubate (if needed), and continue monitoring the patient until they wake up, again administering drugs as needed. They must document everything - what drugs and when, what the vitals were, what issues they encountered, etc. Much of this is done via computer, but sometimes it's done on paper.
There is probably a LOT more they do that I am not aware of, but that's most of what I have seen.
From what I have seen, they meet with patients pre-surgery and get a short history. Have they had anesthesia before, how did they react to it, do they have sleep apnea, etc. Then, they administer drugs to put the patient to sleep. Often, they intubate the patient - they put the breathing tube down the throat and into the lungs. They monitor the patient throughout the surgery, making sure they stay asleep, but don't go too far down. They constantly check vitals (via monitors), giving more drugs as necessary. I have never seen it happen, but I'm told that if the patient codes (heart stops), they are the first to know, and are the ones who will then provide CPR.
Once surgery is over, they extubate (if needed), and continue monitoring the patient until they wake up, again administering drugs as needed. They must document everything - what drugs and when, what the vitals were, what issues they encountered, etc. Much of this is done via computer, but sometimes it's done on paper.
There is probably a LOT more they do that I am not aware of, but that's most of what I have seen.
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Thomas’s Answer
Hello an anesthesiologist is a type of doctor that is responsible for preparing and taking care of patients in need of surgical procedures in terms of pain control, breathing and vital sign stability during a procedure
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Allen’s Answer
I worked as a clinical intraoperative neuromonitorist so I worked closely with nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists. I was also an applicant for an Anesthesiologist Assistant program (AA). The anesthesiologist is a physician who is trained as the highest expert in anesthesia. Nurse Anesthetists can work independently but can not supervise. The anesthesiologist is responsible for supervising Nurse Anesthetists, evaluating and treating patients and doing complex pain blocking injections. They work alongside surgeons to supervise and/or administer anesthesia regimens for the optimum management of the patient. In 20 states Anesthesiology Assistants are masters level trained physician assistants who perform the same role of the nurse anesthetist but the difference is that nurses may act independently in lower complexity cases while AAs must always be under the supervision (be signed off) by anesthesiologists.
So the difference here is that anesthesiologists must handle the hardest, most complex cases and do pain management. Other providers always work below them on easier cases.
So the difference here is that anesthesiologists must handle the hardest, most complex cases and do pain management. Other providers always work below them on easier cases.