‘Anaesthesists Are Unsung in Surgical Operation’

Nigerians have been urged to always ask for anesthetists before undergoing any surgical procedure.

Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Prof Chris Bode, who gave the advice, said it is important because anaesthetists are specialist doctors  responsible for administering anaesthesia to patients for operations and procedures. “They are doctors, who have chosen, after qualifying, to undertake postgraduate specialist training of at least, seven years in anaesthesia, intensive  care medicine and pain management,” he said.

He continued: “Failure to engage them could result in untimely death,”  adding that Anaesthesia Day is celebrated each year throughout the world in recognition of Anaesthesia, which is one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine. “Many  operations today, especially for the very young, very old  and everyone would not be possible without it,”he said.

Prof Bode said people should learn to celebrate Anesthetists, as they are awesome heroes and heroines for without them many lives may be lost. “No operation may be done. They are the ones that stay with a patient there in the theatre and after operation, ensure that life is kept intact. We talk about surgeons a lot, but Anaesthesists are the people we need to be praising because they do a lot.

“When a surgeon finishes doing his surgery and leaves, Anaesthesists are the people that get into the next operation. They are heroes and herones we need to talk about, they are good people. They are specialist doctors, who have undergone many years of training, confidence and certified,” he said.

Explaining the mode of operation, Prof Bode  said Anaesthesists put patient to sleep, make the operation  a pleasant experience both for the patient and the surgeon; maintain the patient in a state of comfort after operation to feel minimal or no pains at all.

“You won’t appreciate them until you go under their care. They are the specialists in pain management; they are very important in any meaningful hospitals settings, for without them all the specialists, who have to take the life of patients in their hands, would not function. They are the specialists behind the scene when you only see the surgeons. They are very important and worth celebrating. Everyone should know and understand that Anaesthesia is very important for anyone, who is going t for surgery,” Prof Bode said.

He said there three types of anesthesia -local – numbs on small area of the body. “You stay awake and alert”. Regional – blocks pain in an area of the  body, such as  arm or leg. A common type is epidural anesthesia, which is often used during childbirth.  And  General, which makes you  unconscious,” Prof Bode said, adding that  LUTH management joined Department of Anesthesia of LUTH, headed by Professor Ibironke Desalu,  and other Anaesthesists from all over the world, to celebrate their special day.”

An Anesthesist, consultant  and  co-ordinator of Intensive Care Unit Services, LUTH,  Dr Adesida Adeniyi said: “World Anesthesia Day, is a day set aside to make the whole world know that Anesthesia is the back bone of surgery, and whoever is going for surgery must and surely have an Anaesthesia, many people in the world have died because they did not have good Anaesthesia.”