What is an Anesthesiologist? High Paying Jobs in America

Anesthesiologists play a crucial role in medical procedures by administering anesthesia, ensuring patient comfort during surgery. They also monitor vital signs and life functions, making quick decisions with limited information when necessary. The demanding nature of their profession cannot be overstated.

Over 150 years ago, ether was celebrated as the inaugural anesthetic, deemed the “greatest gift to suffering humanity.” While modern drugs have replaced ether, the profound relief provided by anesthesia, such as epidurals during childbirth, continues to be revered as a significant boon to humanity.

Anesthesia is often simplified as inducing sleep, but J.P. Abenstein, an associate professor of anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic, clarifies that general anesthesia more accurately resembles a profound drug-induced coma. Anesthesiologists typically administer a combination of intravenous drugs and inhaled gases to render patients unconscious and free of pain. During procedures involving the head, chest, or abdomen, anesthesiologists also manage a patient’s breathing through the use of a breathing tube. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Abenstein describes their role as crucial in sustaining a patient’s life during invasive procedures that would otherwise be fatal.

In addition to general anesthesia, anesthesiologists may administer intravenous sedatives to alleviate patient anxiety. In cases of regional anesthesia, where specific areas of the body are targeted, medications are injected near nerve clusters to block pain signals from reaching the brain, effectively numbing a localized region. Patients undergoing regional anesthesia remain conscious, although they may receive intravenous sedation to induce relaxation, drowsiness, or sleep, depending on the level of sedation required.

Abenstein highlights the significant expansion of the profession in recent years. While anesthesiologists traditionally operated in hospital operating rooms, their expertise is increasingly sought in various other medical departments, such as invasive radiology, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and electrophysiology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for anesthesiologists are expected to grow by 2.6% between 2022 and 2032, with approximately 1,000 new positions projected to become available during this period.