What Is An Anesthesiologist?
An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in the area of medical practice that relates to the perioperative care of the surgical patient. This includes pre-operative (before surgery) assessment, intra-operative (during surgery) management, and post-operative (after surgery) care. In addition, anesthesiologists are very active in the areas of acute and chronic pain management, critical care, and respiratory therapy. In order to become an anesthesiologist, a person must attend college and then an accredited medical school. After receiving their M.D. degree, the physician will apply for a residency in anesthesiology. This education process will generally take an additional four years to complete. In addition, further training in a subspecialty area of anesthesiology known as a fellowship can be taken. After an anesthesiologist has completed their training, they undergo rigorous written and oral examinations by the American Board of Anesthesiology in order to become Board Certified in their specialty..
Post-Operative Pain Control
In the past, post-operative pain control had routinely been treated with intravascular injections or oral medications. Now, if the patient and the surgeon desire, members of Care Anesthesiology, pain management services will treat the patient's pain after surgery.
Methods of advanced pain control
Intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia (IVPCA): This method utilizes a computerized pump to administer pain medications directly into the intra-venous infusion. Metered doses of pain medications are administered by the patient when the patient needs the medication. Many patients feel they are more comfortable and require less pain medicine when they administer their own medication.