Anesthesiology

Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who administer anesthesia, medicine that prevents pain and anxiety, during surgical procedures and during the perioperative period. Additionally, anesthesiologists specialize in pain management and serve patients receiving critical care.

There are several types of anesthesia:

• General anesthesia is used to put you to sleep during a medical procedure. This approach is used for major surgeries.

• Regional anesthesia is administered to numb large areas of the body, such as a limb or areas below the waist. In many cases, you will also be given sedation so you will be asleep during the procedure.

• Local anesthesia is used to numb a small area of the body, such as a wound that needs stitches.

Your health is our top priority, and our anesthesiologists and CRNAs monitor a range of vital signs and functions before, during and after procedures requiring anesthesia.

Anesthesiologists work alongside a wide range of specialties, including:

• Cardiovascular care

• Endocrinology

• General surgery

• Interventional radiology

• Lung care

• Minimally invasive and robotic surgeries

• Neurology

• Obstetrics and gynecology

• Orthopedics

• Pediatrics

• Plastic reconstructive surgeries

• Spinal surgeries

• Trauma services

• Urology

At Ochsner, we put your health and safety first. Anesthesia is generally safe, and complications are rare. Possible risks include breathing or heart rhythm problems, allergic reactions and delirium after general anesthesia, which causes confusion about what is happening and can occur in older adults as well as children. However, anesthesia-related complications have been significantly reduced thanks to advancements in anesthetic agents, drug therapies and patient monitoring.

An anesthesiologist is trained in pain medicine and can treat many different types of pain, including:

• Acute pain from injuries

• Back pain

• Chronic pain, which lasts three or more months and can result from injuries, arthritis, back conditions, migraines and more

• Fibromyalgia

• Knee pain

• Labor and childbirth

• Postoperative pain

Anesthesiologists work with your care team to develop the best pain management plan for your condition, whether you are facing a routine procedure or are critically ill. For severe pain, an anesthesiologist can prescribe and manage opioids and other prescription pain medications. Other options include physical therapy, non-prescription pain medications, massage and relaxation techniques.