Will your anesthesiologist leave the OR? Patients deserve to

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2015/10/wil ... -know.html

I would add on to the title, particularly patients with sleep apnea. But I am sure folks with other medical conditions would say the same thing about their situation.

""Of course, reporter Dianna Wray explains that in many hospitals, one physician anesthesiologist often supervises multiple cases staffed by nurse anesthetists. This model of care is called the “anesthesia care team“, and has a very long record of safe practice in nearly all major hospitals in the United States. Typically, the anesthesiologist makes rounds from one operating room to the next, checking on each case frequently, just as an internal medicine physician would round on patients in the hospital who are being monitored by their nurses.

Ms. Wray’s article narrates in detail what happened in several anesthesia cases where things went horribly wrong. She points out that the patients and families were not aware that the anesthesiologist would not be present during the entire case.""

I did want to point out in the Joan Rivers case, that having an anesthesiologist nearby doesn't guarantee anything. But as the author of this article pointed out who is an anesthesiologist, the issue is that patient has a right to know who will be monitoring them during surgery and often, this isn't disclosed on the informed consent form.

49er

49er wrote:http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2015/10/wil ... -know.html

I would add on to the title, particularly patients with sleep apnea. But I am sure folks with other medical conditions would say the same thing about their situation.

""Of course, reporter Dianna Wray explains that in many hospitals, one physician anesthesiologist often supervises multiple cases staffed by nurse anesthetists. This model of care is called the “anesthesia care team“, and has a very long record of safe practice in nearly all major hospitals in the United States. Typically, the anesthesiologist makes rounds from one operating room to the next, checking on each case frequently, just as an internal medicine physician would round on patients in the hospital who are being monitored by their nurses.

Ms. Wray’s article narrates in detail what happened in several anesthesia cases where things went horribly wrong. She points out that the patients and families were not aware that the anesthesiologist would not be present during the entire case.""

I did want to point out in the Joan Rivers case, that having an anesthesiologist nearby doesn't guarantee anything. But as the author of this article pointed out who is an anesthesiologist, the issue is that patient has a right to know who will be monitoring them during surgery and often, this isn't disclosed on the informed consent form.

49er

Wow, 49er! Thanks for posting this! I had no idea this could be happening because before any surgery, the anesthesiologist usually comes in to speak with you (the patient) about any concerns you have, etc., thus giving you the impression he or she is going to be right there in surgery with you the entire time! Omg.

I can hardly wait to see the look on the medical staff's faces the next time I go in for surgery and start grilling the anesthesiologist about which members of his/ her 'anesthesia care team' will actually be present and monitoring my surgery. Then I intend to ask him/ her how often the physician anesthesiologist will check on me (the patient), and how that is documented. (Knowledge IS power )

When the doctor of anesthesiology came by to talk to the bullfrog (before his herniated disc repair),
He asked the question, "May I see your teeth?", hubby said, "Just a moment, my wife has them."
The doc declined before I could get them out of my purse.
Hubby's surgery was fairly short, so I imagine a proxy was there, for at least part of the procedure;
but my "big" surgery was three hours.
I will ask if the anesthesiologist was there in person for the whole time-or how much.

In the "olden days" you could count on an anesthesiologist being with you in the OR the entire time. No one thought it would be any other way. Now days, if you don't Request/Demand an anesthesiologist be present at all times, it's very likely that someone who is part of the "care team" will be with you, with the anesthesiologist only checking in if it's necessary. From what I understand, the surgeon requests/or not, a full time anesthesiologist based on what I'm not certain -- I suppose a more complex surgery.

You don't know how complex your surgery will be until you are home and recovered. Jim

In many parts of the country, I guess Rural, You would need to get off the table and drive about 300 miles to find anesthesiologist. The hospital I worked in and have had surgery in only has anesthetists, period.

In the 1910's the Mayo clinic revolutionized surgery by having nurse anesthesiologists instead of having the surgeon control that too. It improved the success of the surgery greatly.

BlackSpinner wrote:In the 1910's the Mayo clinic revolutionized surgery by having nurse anesthesiologists instead of having the surgeon control that too. It improved the success of the surgery greatly.

BS,

Do you have a link to this as I couldn't find it in spite of using various search terms?

Thanks!

49er

No It was in a magazine last year(?) Piecework- they did a piece on that first nurse (who married the guy who started the Mayo clinic) and the lovely lace on her "Duster" (for driving in an open car) So look for the wife of the founder of the clinic Edith Mayo.

BlackSpinner wrote:No It was in a magazine last year(?) Piecework- they did a piece on that first nurse (who married the guy who started the Mayo clinic) and the lovely lace on her "Duster" (for driving in an open car) So look for the wife of the founder of the clinic Edith Mayo.

Thanks!

That is interesting and would obviously be cost effective.
Won't happen in the hospital where I had my hip and knee replacement if you have joint or back surgery though. They have an entire floor dedicated to that type of surgery. The operating rooms use positive air pressure with HEPA filters. The surgical team wear suits with an external air supply and helmet/face shield. Looks like a hazmat suit sort of. Once the surgery starts under normal circumstances no one enters or leaves the room.