Anesthesiology

An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in anesthesia care, pain management, and critical care medicine, and has the necessary knowledge to understand and treat the entire human body. Most commonly, anesthesiologists evaluate, monitor, and supervise patient care before, during, and after surgery. Prior to a surgical intervention it is the role of the anesthesiologist to determine if a patient is fit to undergo a procedure by asking detailed questions about a patient's health, providing a physical examination, and reviewing tests performed to create an anesthesia plan. During surgery, an anesthesiologist manages a patient's sedation and pain control, closely monitors their vital body functions, and responds to medical problems that may occur. In the recovery room, an anesthesiologist supervises others who will monitor a patient's breathing, circulation, consciousness, and level of oxygen. An anesthesiologist is immediately available until a patient has recovered from the effects of anesthesia and is ready to go home or be moved to a regular hospital room or the intensive care unit.

Anesthesiologists also take care of patients having minor surgical interventions or who may not require general anesthesia. This may involve women in labor who need to be awake and alert, but also requiring effective pain management or elderly patients that may be more sensitive to general anesthetic agents. IV sedation, regional anesthesia (spinal blocks and epidurals), and local anesthetic injections may be options that an anesthesiologist utilizes in these situations.