What are medical anesthesia consultants and why do we need them?

If you are planning to undergo a procedure that requires surgery, you will need the services of medical anesthesia consultants. Who are they exactly and why are they a vital part of your surgery? Let us discuss what anesthesia specialists are and what they do for you before, during, and after your surgical procedure. You can also talk to your family doctor if you need to discuss more of your concerns and for more info.

Medical anesthesia consultants: Who are they?

Medical anesthesia consultants or anesthesia specialists are health professionals who specialize in handling anesthesia. There are three known types of anesthesia specialists:

• Anesthesiologist
• Anesthetist
• Anesthesiologist assistant

Let us find out more about each one and determine whose services you would need depending on your condition.

Anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists are licensed and registered medical doctors who extended their training and experience for three (3) more years to specialize in anesthesiology. They are knowledgeable and skillful in promoting cure and health, and they are also capable of know how the body works and how it responds to anesthesia.

Anesthetist. Anesthetists are generally nurses. For a nurse to be a Certified registered nurse anesthetist, they have to undergo a rigorous training program. This is a specialized field in nursing and they require special skills to be able to correctly administer anesthesia to patients. Some CRNAs can administer anesthesia on their own, but depending on the law or practice in a state, anesthesiologists are still needed to supervise this process.

Anesthesiologist assistant. This profession is different from an anesthetist, although both are not doctors who are still capable of administering anesthesia on their own. If anesthetists are nurses, anesthesiologist assistant does not have to be a health-allied professional first. He only has to graduate and have a master’s degree certified by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA). They may not know about the anatomy and physiology of the body, but they are skilled and knowledgeable about the body’s reaction to certain drugs and have knowledge with regard to anesthesia drugs and its administration. They may administer anesthesia in minor surgeries, but their practice is more often than not supervised by a doctor.

Why do we need medical anesthesia consultants?

In any surgery, the role of an anesthesia specialist is very important. He is like the captain of the ship. Here is why.

Before the procedure. On the day of your scheduled operation, your anesthesiologist or anesthetist may introduce themselves and counsels you about their role in the surgery. Of course, they are not the one who will perform the surgery, but they will monitor your overall health while the surgery is taking place. They may be one of the best persons you can talk to before the surgery if you have other concerns.

During the procedure. The operation will not start without an anesthesia specialist. While the surgery is taking place, the anesthesiologist monitors your vital signs to determine how the surgery is affecting your overall health. He also determines if the amount of anesthesia for a certain amount of time is enough to make you unconscious or free of any sensation.

After the procedure. Once the surgery is complete, you will be brought to the recovery room until the anesthesia effects wear off. They will also continue monitoring your vital signs to ensure that no postoperative complications are noted while recovering.