Role of Anesthesiology Residents in the OR

Anesthesiology residents play an important role in the operating room (OR), assisting with patient care while also undergoing rigorous training to become skilled anesthesiologists. Their responsibilities encompass a range of tasks, from preoperative evaluations to the administration of anesthesia and postoperative care. Their four-year residency program provides invaluable experience and training for independent practice (1). The role of anesthesiology residents in the OR helps ensure patient safety and optimize surgical outcomes.

An important duty of anesthesiology residents is to perform preoperative assessments, which involves reviewing the patient’s medical history, setting up equipment, preparing medications and evaluating diagnostic tests to identify any potential risks (2). Under the supervision of the attending anesthesiologist, the resident evaluates the patient and confirms an appropriate anesthesia plan based on the individual needs of the patient (3). This portion of the resident’s role is crucial as it ensures the patient is well prepared for a safe surgery.

As residents continue to learn and grow under their supervisor, they are entrusted with an increasing number of responsibilities in the operating room. They closely monitor the patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and body fluid balance. They also adjust anesthesia levels as needed to ensure that patients remain unconscious and as pain-free as possible during the surgery (4).

Anesthesiology residents must learn how to respond to real-time critical events in a supervised environment before having to face such scenarios as fully-fledged anesthesiologists. Due to the risky nature of this learning environment, studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of exposing residents to simulation-based, event-specific training, which allows them to master clinical skills in advance of surgeries (5). As a result, they are better equipped to safely perform intraoperative care without placing patients in the way of possible harm.

As a part of their training, anesthesiology residents practice in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) in addition to the OR. In this role, the resident assumes the responsibility of caring for patients after they have undergone surgery. They first receive a briefing regarding the patient’s medical records and current status from the anesthesia provider who supervised the patient’s surgery. After the handoff, residents are responsible for monitoring pain levels, hemodynamics, airway functioning, etc. (6). Although the post-operative period may sometimes be overlooked due to its less hands-on, more monitoring-intensive nature, it is in fact a crucial stage for ensuring that patients undergo a safe recovery (7). Anesthesiology residents and their supervisors play a role in patient outcomes both before, in, and after the OR. They learn to determine when patients are able to return home safely, thereby minimizing future risk of harm and improving the quality of their care.

Anesthesiology residents have an essential role in the OR both for their professional development and the delivery of high-quality patient care. From preoperative assessments to intraoperative management and postoperative care, anesthesiology residents are trained at every stage of the perioperative process.

References

1. “​Anesthesia as a Career,” American Society of Anesthesiologists, March 25, 2024. https://www.asahq.org/education-and-career/career-resources/anesthesia-as-a-career.
2. “Anesthesiology Resident,” University of Miami, February 5, 2024. https://careers.miami.edu/us/en/job/R100059560/Anesthesiology-Resident.
3. Kristen Powers, “A Day in the Life of a CA-1 Resident,” Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care | the University of Chicago, https://anesthesia.uchicago.edu/education/day-life-ca-1-resident.
4. University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Role of the Anesthesiologist.” .
5. Park, Christine S., Lauryn R. Rochlen, Edward Yaghmour, Nicole Higgins, Jeanette R. Bauchat, Kyle G. Wojciechowski, John T. Sullivan, and Robert J. McCarthy. “Acquisition of Critical Intraoperative Event Management Skills in Novice Anesthesiology Residents by Using High-fidelity Simulation-based Training.” Anesthesiology 112, no. 1 (January 1, 2010): 202–11. https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0b013e3181c62d43.
6. “Guidelines for Resident Experience in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit.” Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/pfassets/programresources/040_guidelinesforresidentexperienceinthepost-anesthesiacareunit0307.pdf.
7. Bajwa, Sukhminder JitSingh, and Mohamad SaidMaani Takrouri. “Post-operative anesthesia rounds: Need of the hour.” Anesthesia Essays and Researches 7, no. 3 (January 1, 2013): 291. https://doi.org/10.4103/0259-1162.123205.