What does an anesthesiologist do?

For a long time, medicine has been looking for ways to reduce pain in patients during “invasion” of their body. At the present stage, there are a huge number of methods and techniques that are chosen according to the individual characteristics and condition of the patient. A qualified anesthesiologist will always consult you on the eve of anesthesia and advise you on further actions.

Anesthesiologist - what kind of doctor is this?

An anesthesiologist is a medical professional, a certified specialist who closely cooperates with specialists in other fields, everything depends on the type of disease and the patient's needs.

Anesthesia is also possible in the case of diagnostic studies, for example, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and anesthesia is also widely used in various types of surgical interventions.

Anesthesiology has reached a fairly high level of development in medicine, no industry, no medical field can do without it. An anesthesiologist clearly knows the duration of anesthesia, its localization, and the approximate time of bringing the patient out of this state. This doctor observes the patient before the intervention, consults him, is present during surgical treatment or certain diagnostics, and also monitors the patient's health after the anesthesia wears off.

Anesthesiologist-resuscitator: duties

Many people assume that the anesthesiologist only performs anesthesia, and that is where his mission ends. But this is a profound misconception.

An anesthesiologist-resuscitator is a specialist who spends twice as much time with the patient as a surgeon. Because this doctor is called upon not only to alleviate pain symptoms, but also to ensure the successful completion of the operation and the successful withdrawal of the patient from anesthesia and return to life.

In addition, the anesthesiologist keeps a special card in which everything is recorded:

• the time the patient spends on the operating table;
• the time of administration of anesthesia;
• the beginning of the operation;
• all stages of the surgical intervention (sequence of the surgeon's actions, incision, suturing, etc.);
• administration of medications;
• pulse, pressure;
• the operation of the ventilator;
• the amount of blood loss, urine excreted, etc.

Types of anesthesia

Different types of anesthesia are used in medical practice. The choice depends on the location of the operation, the severity of the disease and many other conditions. Anesthesia also varies by the method of administration, the number of drugs used and the application at the stages of the operation. There are:

• local anesthesia - most often used in dental treatment. It is characterized by the fact that the patient is anesthetized in a specific area of the body, while the patient remains conscious;
• general anesthesia - the patient is unconscious, does not feel anything and does not remember. This is intravenous anesthesia, as a result of which the patient loses consciousness within 10 seconds;
• epidural anesthesia (spinal) - often used during childbirth, in various types of gynecological operations. The essence of this anesthesia is that a certain dose of the drug is injected into the patient's spine, and after a while the patient stops feeling pain.

What surgeries are attended by an anesthesiologist?

All surgical interventions require the participation of this doctor. Although sometimes it is possible to administer anesthesia directly by a doctor of a certain specialization, for example, an otolaryngologist, dentist, etc. Let's take a closer look at what types of operations are performed with the active assistance of an anesthesiologist and surgeon:

• from the field of general surgery and vascular surgery:
  • appendectomy;
  • removal of the gallbladder;
  • splenectomy;
  • heart surgery;
  • opening of abscesses;
  • removal of an ingrown nail;
  • biopsy sampling;
  • varicose veins.
• neurosurgery:
  • excision of tumors;
  • vascular surgery;
  • excision hernias;
  • TBI;
  • surgeries on nerve endings;
  • tendon restoration.
• from the field of plastic surgery:
  • face plastic surgery;
  • different types of facelifts
  • hair transplantation;
  • abdominoplasty;
  • breast augmentation;
  • intimate plastic surgery;
  • scar excision.
• in traumatology and orthopedics, anesthesia is used for:
  • osteosynthesis;
  • reposition of dislocations;
  • at endoprosthetics.
•  in urology:
  • removal of urinary system organs;
  • removal of stones;
  • operations on the prostate gland, scrotum organs, etc.
•   in obstetrics and gynecological operations:
  • cesarean section;
  • excision of oncological formations, polyposis;
  • vulvectomy, etc.
• ophthalmology:
  • surgical treatment of any diseases retina.
• ENT diseases:
  • removal of formations;
  • alignment of the nose;
  • implantation of a hearing aid.
• In oncology:
  • removal of malignant formations, excision of lymph nodes.
• Dentistry:
  • tooth extraction and dental prosthetics;
  • treatment of dental diseases;
  • gum plastic surgery.

What types of tests and additional studies can be prescribed anesthesiologist?

A consultation with an anesthesiologist is a must before surgery. This specialist will tell you everything that awaits you, what the sequence of actions is and whether preparation is necessary. He will help you decide on the type of anesthesia: epidural, general or local, whether a stay in a day hospital is necessary, etc. Also will give a referral for diagnostics, for example:

• listening to the cardiovascular system and lungs;
• ECG;
• chest X-ray;
• measuring pulse and blood pressure;
• spirometry;
• allergy tests;
• general AC and biochemistry;
• for coagulation;
• determination of blood group and Rh factor;
• test for hepatitis, hormonal indicators;
• general urine analysis.

The appropriateness of certain tests, additional consultations with doctors of related specialties - all this should be determined by the attending physician doctor.

Strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations will help you to perform anesthesia as best as possible, and soon return to your usual way of life. Choose qualified specialists and be healthy!