‘Anaesthesiologist’s role needs to be recognised’
| Date :18-Oct-2020 |
Principal Correspondent ;
‘Hey Doc, I am very anxious about my operation. I do not want to be awake during operation.’ ‘How will I bear the pain during and after my operation?’ ‘Doctor, my child is small and very much frightened. How can the child withstand the operation?’ These are the common questions thatpop up in the minds of patients or relatives before the scheduled surgery.
One must know that one specialist in the medical field has actual answers to all types of such questions and that specialist is an Anaesthesiologist. ‘The Hitavada’ talked to some leading anaesthesiologists in city who revealed several things regarding anasthesia. Dr Saurabh Barde, President of Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists, Nagpur City Branch (ISA NCB) explained, “Anaesthesia is a controlled process wherein all the types of sensations are temporarily inhibited in isolated parts of the body of the person undergoing surgery or complete unconsciousness is induced so that the person is not aware of the surroundings or both the techniques are employed simultaneously.” Dr Barde further stated anesthesiology as a specialty has grown leaps and bounds with advancement in available Anaesthetic medication, monitoring standards, various gadgets and skills of Anaesthesia clinicians. As a result, outcomes after most complicated surgeries in patients with multiple organ dysfunctions have improved tremendously.
Honorary Secretary of ISA Nagpur City Branch, Dr Deepak Madankar stated, “The reason for improved outcomes in complicated patients and surgeries is due to multi-faceted training and experience of managing Intensive Care Units, good post operative pain management leading to better rehabilitation. Anaesthesiologists apart from managing anaesthesia in operating rooms, are handling ICUs and pain management clinics, involved in research activities, gadgets innovation, artificial intelligence and simulation techniques in anesthesia, basic life support training of general population and charitable activities like surgical camps.” Dr Naresh Tirpude, Dean of Government Medical College, Gondia informed, “During coronavirus pandemic moderate to severe Covid-19 patients in critical areas are being looked after by the anaesthesiologists.
Anesthesiologists should no more be considered as ‘behind the curtains' clinicians.” Dr Wasudev Barsagade, Head of Anaesthesiology Department of Government Medical College and Hospital, (GMCH), Nagpur was of opinion that having experience of managing dysfunctions of almost all organ systems during anaesthesia, the anaesthesiologists could handle Covid patients efficiently. Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology in Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), Dr Vaishali Shelgaonkar pointed out, “The role of anaesthesiologists in the ongoing pandemic is not restricted only to clinical management of Covid-19 patients. In fact, they are involved as part of Task Force group looking after administrative part in setting up of advanced Covid-19 facility and arranging for every requirement which was necessary for treatment of Covid-19 patients. She further said that managing Covid-19 operation theatres was altogether different compared to routine anaesthesia work.” Dr Anjali Bhure, Head, Department of Anaesthesiology, NKPSIMS, stated that doctors of other branches and paramedical staff were also trained by anaesthesiologists in various aspects of Covid-19 treatment including proper methods of donning and doffing of PPEs.