What is Anesthesiology?
Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dedicated to the relief of pain and total care of the surgical patient before, during and after surgery. It involves the use of medications and monitoring of vital functions during surgery and other medical procedures to relax the body, block pain and induce sleepiness or unconsciousness. While under anesthesia, breathing, blood pressure, blood flow and heart rate and rhythm are all monitored and controlled.
The education of today's anesthesiologists has kept pace with their expanding role in offering the highest quality health care available anywhere in the world. After completing a four-year college program and four years of medical school, they enter a four-year anesthesiology residency training program. Fellowships in an anesthesia subspecialty and in education or research may also be taken for an additional year.