Anesthesiology
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Anesthesiology is not confined to the operating room. Anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) can be found all over MeritCare — in admissions, radiology, patient rooms, birthing rooms, the clinic, the emergency center, the operating room and the intensive care unit. Patients are individually assessed and receive personalized anesthesia care.
Common Procedures
The anesthesia staff makes people comfortable during procedures and provides pain relief. This might happen before a surgery, during the placement of a pacemaker or before childbirth. This team also works in the emergency room, where duties may include maintaining respiration for someone involved in a major car accident or sedating a person. In addition to administering anesthesia, this team monitors vital signs and works with Pain Management Services to evaluate and treat patients suffering from a variety of painful conditions.
Additional Information
Doctors and CRNAs visit with a patient before any procedure where anesthesia may be used. They discuss the options, the side effects and how the drug will be administered.
Health Library
Learn more about the types of anesthesia in the health library.