•Anesthesiologists ensure pain-free surgical procedures and manage patient well-being during and after surgery.
•This October 16, the first public anesthesia carried out in 1846 is commemorated, marking the beginning of this essential profession in medicine.
World Anesthesiologist Day is celebrated on October 16, remembering the historic moment when William Thomas Morton, a dental student, performed the first successful public anesthesia in a Massachusetts amphitheater in 1846. This achievement allowed for an operation without that the patient felt pain, revolutionizing the field of medicine and surgery.
Since that time, anesthesiology has advanced significantly. Currently, anesthesiologists are not only responsible for administering anesthesia during surgical procedures, but also for maintaining the stability of the patient’s vital signs and verifying their recovery after the operation. They are responsible for ensuring that the patient remains in a controlled state, allowing complex surgeries, such as cardiac and neurosurgical surgeries, to be performed more safely.
Care that goes beyond anesthesia
The role of the anesthesiologist does not end when the surgery is concluded. These professionals are also responsible for postoperative pain management, ensuring that patients do not suffer in the critical hours after an intervention. In addition, they are the experts in charge of resuscitation, intervening quickly in case of any complications during the intervention.
In our country, the Ministry of Public Health has implemented training programs to guarantee the presence of anesthesiologists in all the main hospitals in the country, in order to ensure that each patient receives specialized and quality care. The continuous training of anesthesiologists is a priority for the health system.
