What does an Anesthesiologist do before, during, and after my procedure?
An Anesthesiologist evaluates your health and develops an anesthesia plan before the procedure, manages your vital functions and comfort during it, and oversees recovery and treatment of complications afterward.
An Anesthesiologist is a physician (MD or DO) who has completed medical school and Anesthesiology residency training and specializes in anesthesia, pain management, and critical care. Your Anesthesiologist evaluates your health, develops a personalized plan, manages vital body functions, diagnoses and treats medical problems or complications, and guides recovery.
Quick Summary
- Before: Evaluate your health, medications, previous experiences with anesthesia, and planned procedure; diagnose new medical conditions that may affect your care; assess risks; and develop a personalized anesthesia and pain-management plan.
- During: Manage your anesthesia, breathing, circulation, and response to the procedure while diagnosing and treating medical problems or complications that may arise. For general anesthesia, provide unconsciousness, amnesia, analgesia, and immobility to create appropriate conditions for the procedure while continuously managing your vital functions.
- After: Oversee your recovery; diagnose and treat medical problems and complications; manage pain, nausea, and other anesthesia-related effects; and determine when you are ready for safe discharge or transfer to the next level of care.
Before the procedure
Your Anesthesiologist reviews your medical history, medications, allergies, prior anesthesia experiences, and planned procedure. This includes a focused examination and any necessary tests or consultations. Your physician identifies and diagnoses relevant medical conditions, discusses anesthesia options and their benefits and risks, answers your questions, and develops a personalized anesthesia and pain-management plan with you.
During the procedure
Your Anesthesiologist manages anesthesia, breathing, circulation, and your response to the procedure while continuously assessing your condition, adjusting treatment, and diagnosing and treating medical problems or complications. For general anesthesia, the physician selects medications for unconsciousness, amnesia (preventing memory), analgesia (pain control), and immobility as appropriate. Care may be provided personally or by an Anesthesiologist-led anesthesia care team.
After the procedure
Your Anesthesiologist oversees recovery, evaluates breathing, circulation, and alertness, and diagnoses and treats medical problems or complications. This includes managing pain, nausea, and other anesthesia effects. The physician assesses your readiness to leave the recovery area and works with your care team to arrange safe discharge or transfer to the next appropriate setting.
Questions to ask
- Who is the Anesthesiologist responsible for my anesthesia plan?
- Who will administer my anesthesia, and what are their qualifications, education and experience?
- Which medical conditions or medications could affect my anesthesia risk?
- Who will be immediately available to diagnose and treat problems if my condition changes?
Outside resources
Sources
Reviewed By
- Physician reviewer:
- Russell McAllister, MD, FASA Verify certification and MOCA status (opens in a new tab)
- Board certification:
- Anesthesiology — American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
- Additional reviewer:
- Christopher Cook, DO, FASA
- Last reviewed: