Surgery vs Anesthesia

[Dr Sardonicus]

Hi,

Having to deal with surgeons is usually cited on this board as a "con" of anesthesia.

Can someone discuss the relationship between surgeons and anesthesia doctors in the OR? Is it superior/subordinant or are they equal decision makers?

It seems that the average anesthesia Dr. is making more money than the average general surgeon. Not that this matters that much, but I'm sure the laymen would be surprised to learn this.

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[dr.evil]

As I have gone through medical school and scrubbed with many different surgeons, I have yet to see a negative interaction between surgeon and anesthesiologist. This is not to say that it doesn't happen. I have heard stories of surgeons who thought they were god jumping on an anesthesiologist. I think these are rare occurrences and the best situations (and usually occur with the surgeons who the entire OR staff will bend over backwards to make them happy) are somewhat of a team approach to the patient and situation. If you've ever been in a room during a CABG, you can watch the perfect orchestration of surgeon and anesthesiogist (my experience).

It really boils down to a ego thing. Surgeons tend to be the ones with egos (stereotype I know but I can do that because I'm doing surgery). It's their patient and whatever goes right (or wrong) with the operation will be on their head no matter who is at fault.

Now when it's a CNA behind the curtain, the surgeon tends to dominate the situation a little more and usually rightfully so.

On a more personal note, I'm going in to surgery and respect the job of an anesthesiologist. If my patient was comfortable through the operation, remembers nothing, and has few/no post-op anesthesia complications, the anesthesiologist has made me look like a caring surgeon. They can also make your job much easier.

I'm definitely not bitter that they make more money than surgeons. We all have a choice of what to do coming out of med school. If money were so important to me, I would have chosen something other than General Surgery (although I don't think poverty is in my future ).

Much of this is anecdotal and situations happen when the anesthesiologist is stuck in a subordinate role but hopefully this is rare.

i'll shut up now

 

[hosskp1]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Dr Sardonicus:
•Hi,

Having to deal with surgeons is usually cited on this board as a "con" of anesthesia.

Can someone discuss the relationship between surgeons and anesthesia doctors in the OR? Is it superior/subordinant or are they equal decision makers?

It seems that the average anesthesia Dr. is making more money than the average general surgeon. Not that this matters that much, but I'm sure the laymen would be surprised to learn this.•••••Do not worry about such silly things. You should do what you want regardless of others think of you. I agree that surgeons might not make what they used to-- but do not choose anything based on salary (except maybe plastic surgery). Do what your calling is-- make a decision and step to it. If you do not like-- you might be able to change it later.
<img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />