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Welcome
to the Patient Education Web Site for the American
Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
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Here you will find important and useful information
to help you become a more informed patient about
the medical care you receive before, during and
following surgical and diagnostic procedures.
As anesthesiologists who are cited as the experts
in patient safety, we believe every patient benefits
from knowing beforehand what to expect and being
actively involved in their own care.
ASA is an educational, research and scientific
association of physicians organized to raise and
maintain the standards of the medical practice
of anesthesiology and improve the care of the
patient. Anesthesiologists are considered the
medical experts in patient safety before, during
and following surgical and diagnostic procedures.
Since its founding in 1905, the Society's achievements
have made it an important voice in American Medicine
and the foremost advocate for all patients who
require anesthesia or relief from pain. ASA is
the largest anesthesiology organization in the
world with more than 43,000 members. |
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What is Anesthesiology?
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Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dedicated
to the relief of pain and total care of the surgical
patient before, during and after surgery.
The education of today's anesthesiologists has kept
pace with their expanding role in offering the highest
quality health care available anywhere in the world.
After completing a four-year college program and four
years of medical school, they enter a four-year anesthesiology
residency training program. Fellowships in an anesthesia
subspecialty and in education or research may also
be taken for an additional year.
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More than 85 percent of the active membership of the American
Society of Anesthesiologists have been certified as diplomats
of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
Scope of Practice
The medical expertise of this specialist has caused a dramatic
expansion of the role of the anesthesiologist. Although
historically, anesthesiologists have been known primarily
as physicians who administer anesthesia to alleviate pain
and suppress consciousness of the patient undergoing surgery,
they also provide medical care and consultations in many
other settings and situations in addition to the operating
room.
The anesthesiologist is the perioperative physician ("peri-"
meaning "all-around") who provides medical care
to each patient throughout his or her surgical experience.
This includes medically evaluating the patient before surgery
(preoperative), consulting with the surgical team, providing
pain control and support of life functions during surgery
(intraoperative), supervising care after surgery (postoperative)
and medically discharging the patient from the recovery
unit.
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In the operating room:
An estimated 40 million anesthetics are administered each
year in this country. Anesthesiologists provide or participate
in more than 90 percent of these anesthetics. In the operating
room, they are responsible for the medical management and
anesthetic care of the patient throughout the duration of
the surgery. The anesthesiologist must carefully match the
anesthetic needs of each patient to that patient's medical
condition, responses to anesthesia and the requirements
of the surgery.
Within the confines of the operating room suite, which
is often comprised of several separate operating rooms,
the activities of the anesthesiologist are seen by few people
outside of the surgical and nursing team. Even the patients
themselves are unable to recall much of their involvement
with this vital specialist because most of the anesthesiologist's
critical work is done while the patient is anesthetized!
The role of the anesthesiologist in the operating room is
to: 1) provide continual medical assessment of the patient;
2) monitor and control the patient's vital life functions
-- heart rate and rhythm, breathing, blood pressure, body
temperature and body fluid balance; and 3) control the patient's
pain and level of unconsciousness to make conditions ideal
for a safe and successful surgery.
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In the postanesthesia care unit (recovery room)
This is where patients are transferred after surgery, allowing
them to emerge fully from the effects of the anesthesia
under the watchful eyes of skilled nursing personnel with
anesthesiologist consultation immediately available. While
safety is of course the foremost priority during surgery,
it is also of utmost concern that the patient be monitored
and continually assessed while fully regaining consciousness.
In most cases, the anesthesiologist decides when the patient
has recovered enough to be sent home following outpatient
surgery or has been stabilized sufficiently to be moved
to a regular room or ward in the medical facility.
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For pain management:
In addition to the patient's pain being relieved or blocked
entirely during a surgical procedure, it is equally important
to provide adequate pain relief postoperatively for the
patient's comfort and well-being. After surgery, the anesthesiologist
is involved in prescribing pain-relieving medication and
techniques that are best for each individual patient to
maintain a level of comfort and to follow proper rest.
Because of their specialty training, anesthesiologists
are uniquely qualified to prescribe and administer drug
therapies for acute, chronic, cancer and childbirth pain.
In childbirth, the anesthesiologist manages the care of
two people, providing pain relief with epidural or spinal
blocks for the mother while managing the life functions
of both the mother and the baby. Read "The Management
of Pain" brochure.
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In critical care and trauma medicine:
As an outgrowth of the postanesthesia care unit, critical
care units are now found in all major medical facilities
throughout the country. The role of the anesthesiologist
in this setting is to provide medical assessment and diagnosis,
respiratory and cardiovascular support, and infection control.
Anesthesiologists also have the medical background to deal
with many emergency situations. They provide airway management,
cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation, advanced life support
and pain control. As consultants, they play an active role
in stabilizing and preparing the patient for emergency surgery.
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During cardiac laboratory procedures:
In most institutions, anesthesiologists are available during
cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty procedures for
emergency airway management or resuscitation if necessary.
For diagnostic procedures and nonsurgical treatments:
As medical technologies have advanced, so has the need for
anesthesiologists to become involved in caring for patients
during radiological imaging or scanning procedures, gastrointestinal
endoscopies, in vitro fertilization, lithotripsy procedures,
electroshock treatment, nutritional support and respiratory
therapy.
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Research and Clinical Studies
Some of the most significant strides in medicine and
surgery have been directly attributed to anesthesiology's
advances in patient monitoring, improved anesthetic agents
and new drug therapy. Research at the clinical and basic
science levels has been done almost exclusively by anesthesiologists
or Ph.D. scientists with the goal of continually improving
patient care and safety.
Research is conducted in each of the subspecialties of
pediatric, geriatric, obstetric, critical care, cardiovascular,
neurosurgical and ambulatory anesthesia. Other areas of
study include: blood transfusions and fluid therapy, infection
control, difficult airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
complications, new devices and methods of monitoring, pharmacology,
pain therapy and organ transplant.
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Patient Safety
Complications from anesthesia have declined dramatically
over the last 25 years. Since 1970, the number of anesthesiologists
has more than doubled and, at the same time and at virtually
the same rate, patient outcomes have improved. In just the
last decade, estimates for the number of deaths attributed
to anesthesia have dropped 25-fold from 1 in 10,000 anesthetics
to 1 in 250,000 today.
All this has occurred during a time when the youngest of
premature infants in neonatal units survives intricate,
lifesaving procedures and 100-year-old patients undergo
and recover from major surgeries that were once thought
to be impossible.
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Educational and Legislative Activities
Anesthesiologists, through their national professional
organization, the American Society of Anesthesiologists
(ASA), participate in many continuing medical education
programs and legislative activities. These include:
- The world's largest international educational program
for anesthesiologists -- a five-day ASA Annual Meeting
with an attendance of more than 18,000.
- Comprehensive refresher courses for continuing medical
education during the ASA Annual Meeting and regional courses
and workshops throughout the year.
- Education, training and applications of new knowledge
in the areas of patient safety, standards of care, practice
guidelines, and quality improvement.
- Patient education programs and materials about the current
and emerging technologies in anesthesiology to help the
public make educated choices about their anesthesia or
pain management care.
- Legislative and regulatory activities at the state and
national levels through the ASA Washington Office.
Prepared
Speeches
ASA offers three prepared speeches suitable
for a lay audience, either for a last-minute presentation
or as a starting point to develop your own speech:
1. “Planning Your Childbirth” — Suitable
for prenatal classes and community groups by summarizing
the anesthetic options available for mothers-to-be.
2. “Smoking Hazards and Anesthesia”
— Points out yet another reason for smokers to consider
kicking the habit by explaining how smokers require special
consideration when undergoing surgery.
3. “Anesthesia for the Elderly Patient”
— For use when talking to senior groups about anesthesia
and pain control with an emphasis on how and why the anesthesiologist
pays special attention to the elderly patient.
Single copies available
to members on request by contacting the ASA Communications
Department. communications@asahq.org
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Slide
Shows (PowerPoint Files)
To date, the Committee on Communications
offers eight slide shows with outlines for members to
use in public education:
1.  “Role
of the Anesthesiologist in the I.C.U.” — Explains
the pivotal role that anesthesiologists play in
the challenging environment of the intensive care
unit. Ample graphics, figures and facts complement
this informative presentation.
2. “The
History of Anesthesiology ” — This
fun and educational slide show follows anesthesiology’s
story from ancient to modern times. Intriguing
characters and colorful stories abound in this
historical look at one of medicine’s most
important specialties.
3. “Choosing
A Career as a Physician and an Anesthesiologist" -
Helps someone interested in a career in anesthesiology
to understand that they must first become a physician before
specializing in anesthesiology. Emphasizes the need to
plan, find a mentor, combine pre-med coursework with liberal
arts studies as an undergraduate and decide if anesthesiology
is right for them.”
4. "Geriatric
Anesthesia" - Prepared
in cooperation with the Committee on Geriatric
Anesthesia, it describes some common changes that
occur with getting older and how these changes
influence the practice of anesthesia with elderly
patients.
5. “Role
of the Anesthesiologist in Labor Delivery"
- Answers some of the more common questions about analgesia
and anesthesia for labor and delivery. Also addresses
important issues about regional blocks, general anesthesia
for cesarean deliveries and patient monitoring.
6. “What
You Should Know Before Anesthesia” -
Outlines the types of anesthesia, patient safety
monitoring and the role of the anesthesiologist
in perioperative care of the surgical patient.
7. “When
Your Child Needs Anesthesia"
- Helps to prepare the parents of young children who need
to undergo a diagnostic or surgical procedure under anesthesia.
8.
"The Role of the Anesthesiologists in the Management
of Pain”
–- Details the role that anesthesiologists play
in the treatment options available to patients in pain
both inside and outside of the operating room.
If you need a CD-ROM, contact the ASA Communications
Department <communications@ASAhq.org>.
Health
Fair Booths
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Two portable booths are available for loan to ASA
members. One is a tabletop exhibit, measuring about
8' wide by 3.5' tall. The other is a freestanding
model, which measures about 8' wide by 8' in height.
Both the tabletop exhibit and the freestanding booth
come in their own portable cases, making them easy
to transport as well as set up.
These booths can be used at health fairs, career
days, community events and hospital or department
open houses. They come with ready-to-display, laminated
color photographs and captions, but can be personalized
with a little Velcro and some imagination. There is
no rental charge. ASA pays to ship the booth out,
and the user agrees to pay to ship it back (UPS ground).
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Booths are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Members may call the
ASA Communications Department at (847) 825-5586 for more
information.
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