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Could you describe one of your typical work day as an anesthesiologists?
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Patti’s Answer
Hi Lexis,
I'm a special type of anesthesiologist called a trauma anesthesiologist. I work at one of the busiest trauma centers in the country. Trauma means taking care of injured folks, folks in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and victims of crime like folks that get shot or stabbed. I love my work. It's very dynamic, and not your typical anesthesia work.
Typical anesthesia work involves looking up a patients medical history and getting to know what diseases they may have, what the status of their treatment is for their diseases, then matching a safe and comfortable plan with medications to get them through their surgery. It's work that involves a lot of specific, detailed info: what does the surgeon need to do their work safely and efficiently? How healthy is the patient? If they're not healthy, are they "as good as they get", i.e., are they "tuned up", or do they need a delay to get them better ready for their surgery so they have less risk in undergoing it? Then if the patient is ready, I meet them, examine them, review their data, see if there's anything else - like a risk of a bad thing happening - and take that into account so I can reduce their risk and optimize their outcome for their surgery. Then we start an IV, and if it's the right thing, I give them a medicine to reduce their anxiety. (There are circumstances like the very elderly where this is not the right thing to do because not everyone can metabolize drugs well). Then I explain the anesthetic plan and options for care, get their permission to help them through their surgery with my expertise, and take them to the OR. There we move the patient to the OR table, get them fully monitored (like monitor their heart and oxygenation, etc.), then I reassure them I've got their back so-to-speak, ask them to pick out a good dream, give them 100% oxygen to breathe, then give them medicines to induce general anesthesia, a state of unconsciousness that allows the surgeon to work. Then I put them on a mechanical ventilator and give them medicines to keep them safe and comfortable and that allow the surgeon to do their operation. At the end of the operation, I reverse or stop some of those medications, and wake them back up. When they are awake and strong, I take them off the mechanical ventilator and take out a tube that I needed to put them on it called an endotracheal tube (or laryngeal mask airway) and take them to the recovery room where nurses see they are safe before heading to an area that doesn't have as many nurses, or home.
That's a typical general anesthetic, where the patient is unconscious enough to let a surgeon operate on anything, There are other types of anesthesia we do, where we render folks not so sleepy as the surgeon doesn't need that from us. Anesthesiologists usually do several cases in a day. Some focus on certain surgeries, like cardiac surgery or transplanting organs. Or taking care of special patient populations, like kids or moms having babies (obstetrics).
My work in the trauma center is different although there is a lot of that. My work now involves also leading what is called the resuscitation of the patient, often from bad injuries that cause a lot of problems for the heart, blood vessels or major organs. It's very dynamic, and higher stress than the typical anesthesia. But it also comes with reward for me. I like a dynamic environment, and don't mind this severity of illness. It's a little like living in the fast lane.
Hopefully that answers your question.
I'm a special type of anesthesiologist called a trauma anesthesiologist. I work at one of the busiest trauma centers in the country. Trauma means taking care of injured folks, folks in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and victims of crime like folks that get shot or stabbed. I love my work. It's very dynamic, and not your typical anesthesia work.
Typical anesthesia work involves looking up a patients medical history and getting to know what diseases they may have, what the status of their treatment is for their diseases, then matching a safe and comfortable plan with medications to get them through their surgery. It's work that involves a lot of specific, detailed info: what does the surgeon need to do their work safely and efficiently? How healthy is the patient? If they're not healthy, are they "as good as they get", i.e., are they "tuned up", or do they need a delay to get them better ready for their surgery so they have less risk in undergoing it? Then if the patient is ready, I meet them, examine them, review their data, see if there's anything else - like a risk of a bad thing happening - and take that into account so I can reduce their risk and optimize their outcome for their surgery. Then we start an IV, and if it's the right thing, I give them a medicine to reduce their anxiety. (There are circumstances like the very elderly where this is not the right thing to do because not everyone can metabolize drugs well). Then I explain the anesthetic plan and options for care, get their permission to help them through their surgery with my expertise, and take them to the OR. There we move the patient to the OR table, get them fully monitored (like monitor their heart and oxygenation, etc.), then I reassure them I've got their back so-to-speak, ask them to pick out a good dream, give them 100% oxygen to breathe, then give them medicines to induce general anesthesia, a state of unconsciousness that allows the surgeon to work. Then I put them on a mechanical ventilator and give them medicines to keep them safe and comfortable and that allow the surgeon to do their operation. At the end of the operation, I reverse or stop some of those medications, and wake them back up. When they are awake and strong, I take them off the mechanical ventilator and take out a tube that I needed to put them on it called an endotracheal tube (or laryngeal mask airway) and take them to the recovery room where nurses see they are safe before heading to an area that doesn't have as many nurses, or home.
That's a typical general anesthetic, where the patient is unconscious enough to let a surgeon operate on anything, There are other types of anesthesia we do, where we render folks not so sleepy as the surgeon doesn't need that from us. Anesthesiologists usually do several cases in a day. Some focus on certain surgeries, like cardiac surgery or transplanting organs. Or taking care of special patient populations, like kids or moms having babies (obstetrics).
My work in the trauma center is different although there is a lot of that. My work now involves also leading what is called the resuscitation of the patient, often from bad injuries that cause a lot of problems for the heart, blood vessels or major organs. It's very dynamic, and higher stress than the typical anesthesia. But it also comes with reward for me. I like a dynamic environment, and don't mind this severity of illness. It's a little like living in the fast lane.
Hopefully that answers your question.
Updated
Estelle’s Answer
As an anesthesiologist, your day will start with reviewing your case is for the day, checking on your patience, and getting ready to help with the surgery. Before the surgery, do you assess the patient, and then help take them back to the OR. During the operation, you’ll put the patient to sleep, monitor their vitals and other values, and get medications as needed. After the surgery will help wake them up and move them back to the PACU. As a surgeon, I have a tremendous amount of respect for these people!