Who is the Anaesthetist?
Many misconceptions of the anaesthetist exist. Some believe they simply put patients to sleep. Others wonder whether they are doctors! Hopefully, the blog below will help dispel some myths and provide a better understanding of who the anaesthetist is, and what they do!
Anaesthetists are doctors. Training programmes for anaesthesia vary throughout the world. In the UK, anaesthetic training takes at least 7 years. This time is in addition to medical school and two years of foundation training.
Anaesthetists form the largest speciality group of doctors in NHS hospitals and have a range of roles:
- Preparation of patients for surgery, as well as caring for them during and afterwards
- Provision of pain relief and anaesthesia for pregnant patients
- Management of sick patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit
- Safe transportation of acutely ill/injured patients (within or between care facilities)
- Stabilisation of and provision of critical care to patients outside hospital (pre-hospital emergency care)
- Provision of advice and performance of procedures to alleviate acute and chronic pain
- Administration of sedation for patients undergoing procedures (e.g. endoscopy)
While anaesthetists work in many teams to accomplish the broad roles above, at the core of their responsibilities is their work in preparing and caring for people undergoing surgery.
Before surgery requiring an anaesthetic, the anaesthetist will meet patients to:
- Build rapport (very important!)
- Discuss their health and wishes
- Assess their risk of complications in the perioperative period, and discuss ways to reduce this if possible
- Agree a safe anaesthetic plan
In theatre, the anaesthetist administers the anaesthetic appropriate for the patient and surgery. This does not always mean the patient is always asleep (general anaesthesia). Many operations occur with an awake patient after they have received an injection from the anaesthetist to numb nerves in the back, arms, legs, trunk, head or neck; this is known as regional anaesthesia. If appropriate, sedation may be offered to patients undergoing regional anaesthesia to better tolerate the theatre environment.
During the operation, the anaesthetist will monitor the patient carefully, looking at a range of parameters including the heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels and will provide appropriate organ support if required. After the operation or procedure, the anaesthetist is responsible for the patient until the anaesthetic has worn off and they are able to leave the recovery area. They will also ensure there is plan for pain management in the immediate post-operative period.
Below are some further resources should you wish to learn more about anaesthetists.
Royal College of Anaesthetists: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/training-careers/considering-career-anaesthesia/what-do-anaesthetists-do
Association of Anaesthetists: https://www.anaesthetists.org/Home/Resources-publications/Guidelines/Who-is-the-anaesthetist-Your-guide-to-the-medical-specialty
