Anaesthesists are unsung in surgical operation
Nigerians have been urged to always ask for anesthetists before undergoing any surgical procedure.
Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Prof Chris Bode, who gave the advice, said it is important because anaesthetists are specialist doctors responsible for administering anaesthesia to patients for operations and procedures. “They are doctors, who have chosen, after qualifying, to undertake postgraduate specialist training of at least, seven years in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and pain management,” he said.
He continued: “Failure to engage them could result in untimely death,” adding that Anaesthesia Day is celebrated each year throughout the world in recognition of Anaesthesia, which is one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine. “Many operations today, especially for the very young, very old and everyone would not be possible without it,”he said.
Prof Bode said people should learn to celebrate Anesthetists, as they are awesome heroes and heroines for without them many lives may be lost. “No operation may be done. They are the ones that stay with a patient there in the theatre and after operation, ensure that life is kept intact. We talk about surgeons a lot, but Anesthesiologists are the people we need to be praising because they do a lot.
“When a surgeon finishes doing his surgery and leaves, Anesthetists are the people that get into the next operation. They are heroes and heroines we need to talk about, they are good people. They are specialist doctors, who have undergone many years of training, confidence and certified,” he said.
Explaining the mode of operation, Prof Bode said Anesthesiologists put patient to sleep, make the operation a pleasant experience both for the patient and the surgeon; maintain the patient in a state of comfort after operation to feel minimal or no pains at all.
“You won’t appreciate them until you go under their care. They are the specialists in pain management; they are very important in any meaningful hospitals settings, for without them all the specialists, who have to take the life of patients in their hands, would not function. They are the specialists behind the scene when you only see the surgeons. They are very important and worth celebrating. Everyone should know and understand that Anaesthesia is very important for anyone, who is going t for surgery,” Prof Bode said.
He said there three types of anesthesia -local – numbs on small area of the body. “You stay awake and alert”. Regional – blocks pain in an area of the body, such as arm or leg. A common type is epidural anesthesia, which is often used during childbirth. And General, which makes you unconscious,” Prof Bode said, adding that LUTH management joined Department of Anesthesia of LUTH, headed by Professor Ibironke Desalu, and other Anaesthesists from all over the world, to celebrate their special day.”
An Anesthesist, consultant and co-ordinator of Intensive Care Unit Services, LUTH, Dr Adesida Adeniyi said: “World Anesthesia Day, is a day set aside to make the whole world know that Anesthesia is the back bone of surgery, and whoever is going for surgery must and surely have an Anaesthesia, many people in the world have died because they did not have good Anaesthesia.”
WHAT IS AN ANAESTHETIST?
Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are responsible for providing anaesthesia to patients for operations and procedures. In addition anaesthetists have a range of practice which extends beyond anaesthesia for surgery to include pain management and intensive care.
Anaesthetists form the largest specialty group of doctors in NHS hospitals. They are doctors who have chosen after qualifying to undertake postgraduate specialist training of at least seven years in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and pain management.
Most consultant anaesthetists have developed sub-specialist interests in a particular area of surgical practice, or in pain management or critical care. In the Trust there are also a number of anaesthetists in training who are supervised by consultants. The standards of training in the UK are high and exacting.
Anaesthesia for surgery
Our work involves meeting with the patient and surgical team in order to plan what sort of anaesthetic is most appropriate. This may happen on the day of surgery for straightforward operations, or in an anaesthetic pre-assessment clinic for more complex surgery. Routine checks and preparations are then made for the specific patients on that day's operating list.
In theatre, the anaesthetist administers the anaesthetic tailored to the individual patient and remains with them throughout the operation, monitoring and treating as necessary the effects of the anaesthetic and the surgery. This may involve simple monitoring of the heart, blood pressure and oxygen levels, right through to provision of advanced organ support in complex cases. We also plan and implement the pain relief strategy to ensure that patients are comfortable immediately following the operation.
After the operation or procedure the anaesthetist remains responsible for the patient in the recovery area until the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off enough for the patient to return to their ward. Where complex types of pain relief are used on the ward the anaesthetists in the pain service may continue to review and care for such patients until the need for pain relief is over.
Other roles of the anaesthetist
As part of their training, all anaesthetists also undergo specialist training in intensive care medicine. As a result, most of the doctors in intensive care medicine are anaesthetists and are also involved in resuscitation teams and training.
Some anaesthetists also choose to specialize in caring for specific sorts of pain including pain in childbirth and long-term (or chronic) pain problems.
You are likely to come across anaesthetists in other areas too. Some procedures such as imaging, scanning, endoscopy and dental treatment require the help of the anaesthetist to ensure that you are pain free and you may be given a general anaesthetic during these procedures
No comments:
Post a Comment
please no insults