Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dedicated to the relief of pain and total care of the surgical patient before, during and after surgery. Anesthesiologists are responsible for administering anesthesia to relieve pain and for managing vital life functions during surgery. After surgery, they maintain the patient in a comfortable state during the recovery and are involved in the provision of critical care medicine in the intensive care unit.
Anesthesiologists’ responsibilities to patients include pre-anesthetic evaluation and treatment; medical management of patients and their anesthetic procedures; post-anesthetic evaluation and treatment; and on-site medical direction of any nonphysician who assists in the technical aspects of anesthesia care to the patient.1
American Society of Anesthesiologists. 2011-07-28. URL: http://www.asahq.org/For-the-Public-and-Media/Press-Room/Anesthesia-Fast-Facts.aspx. Accessed: 2011-07-28. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/60W8tlM9s)