What Happens Before Surgeries: Anesthesia Tech

Have you ever wondered what happened before you entered the operating room for your procedure? There are hundreds of checks and double-checks before you enter the room. The anesthesia team comprises the anesthesia technicians, anesthesiologists, or CRNAs, and residents responsible for making the final call on whether or not the patient should enter the room.

Why did I list the anesthesia technicians ahead of all other professionals?

1. The anesthesia tech is the first to enter the operating rooms on most occasions to check out the anesthesia equipment vital to the success of your procedures.

2. The anesthesia tech checks all supplies necessary for that procedure room ensuring. Every piece of stock is present.

3. Based on the procedure such. For a heart transplant, kidney transplant, spine, or neuro procedure, the anesthesia tech will select the appropriate equipment and add it to the room beforehand. Equipment such as a hotline, ultrasound, difficult intubation towers, cellsavers, syringe pumps, and more must pass checkout tests before use.

4. During an emergency, such as when a patient is desaturating, too much blood loss, and more, the anesthesia tech must respond to the immediate needs of the anesthesiologists.

5. If when an anesthesia tech checks out the anesthesia machine or any other equipment and it does not show satisfactory functionality markers, the tech will troubleshoot. If it is still not working to capacity, the tech will inform the anesthesia team and either call for biomedical assistance or switch the equipment, whichever seems fit.

6. The anesthesia tech will let the anesthesia team know if the room is ready for the patient to enter.

Only after every piece of equipment is checked and certified ready for use can the nurse, surgeon, and anesthesia team move forward with the scheduled case. The importance of the anesthesia technician is immense.

On most occasions, the anesthesiologists would expect fully checked and functioning equipment upon entry to prepare their medications. Most would not take time to review the work of the anesthesia technician. Anesthesia technicians are highly trusted professionals who consider themselves the Anesthesia First Responders. The main reason is that they are first in line with everything to do with the anesthesia team operation before patient entry, during, and after the procedure.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, the patient has no idea of the sequence of safety checks. All patients are visited by the nursing, surgical, and anesthesia team during pre-op. In the background, or the hours ahead of the day, the anesthesia tech is there to see that all equipment is ready for you to have a successful procedure.