Anaesthesiologists are responsible for safely administering anaesthetics to patients in healthcare facilities, usually hospital and clinic facilities. They assess patients’ medical status and how that might be affected by the anaesthetic; they also assess patients’ pain management requirements before surgical operations. They decide on the anaesthetic drugs and techniques to be used before, during and after an operation and discuss the anaesthetic process with patients.
Sometimes, anaesthetists are involved in the resuscitation of critically ill people, such as trauma victims. They can be involved in teaching medical staff and students about anaesthetics and some carry out research on new drugs and treatments. In addition, they provide pain relief for women in labour and carefully observe and care for patients before, during and after operations and record details of all drugs administered.
Anaesthetists in South Africa typically study for about 10 years. The first six years are spent on theoretical training to obtain a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) and the other four years in postgraduate studies to obtain a Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia. In addition to the six years of undergraduate study and four years of postgraduate study, specialist anaesthetists usually spend one year in student internship and one year in community service. Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is mandatory for this occupation. Registration as an Independent Medical Practitioner with the HPCSA will only be permitted once all the necessary criteria have been met.
English
Mathematics
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
University of Pretoria
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of Witwatersrand
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of Stellenbosch
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of the Free State
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
University of Limpopo
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Master of Medicine in Anaesthesia
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) - www.hpcsa.co.za
South African Society of Anaesthesiologists - www.sasaweb.com
Why this profession?
At the time I needed to make a career choice, it was assumed that medicine was one of the fields that top academic achievers would pursue. So, I decided to study medicine, but never really enjoyed it until I started specialising in anaesthesia. I love that it combines analytical and problem-solving skills, applied to the mystery that is the human body, with interaction with people who are sick and in pain and alleviating that for them.
What does an anaesthetist do?
Most people believe that we “put people to sleep” so that they can have an operation. But it’s not the same as the sleep we experience every night. The anaesthetist controls the patient’s bodily functions such as breathing, blood pressure, etc, and ensures they feel no pain and are not aware of what’s happening during the surgery. We then awaken the patient and ensure that they are pain free.
What training did you undergo and where?
I completed six years of undergraduate training – MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) at the University of Cape Town – followed by a one-year internship at Groote Schuur Hospital and one year of community service. I then worked for two years in mainly paediatrics and emergency medicine. After my daughter was born, I accepted a post as a medical officer in the Department of Anaesthesia at Groote Schuur. A year later, I was offered a registrar position and completed four years of specialist training before being awarded my specialist degree.
Describe a typical day
Arrive at work about 30mins before a theatre list is scheduled to start. Check the theatre, anaesthetic machine and prepare the medications. Take a history from and examine any patients who are due to be operated on. Decide if the patients are well enough to be operated on and how I will administer the optimal anaesthetic for the patient and surgical conditions. Some days I stay at the same hospital for the entire day; others I travel between hospitals.
What do you enjoy most?
If my patients can remember me as the one who allayed their fears prior to their procedure and have no memory of the surgical experience and be pain free afterwards, then I know I’ve done my job properly. Walking into the patient waiting area and seeing my patient recognise me and smile makes it worthwhile. Or being part of a theatre team on a groundbreaking case that challenges both the surgical team and my anaesthetic skills, and saving a patient that couldn’t otherwise be saved, brings huge job satisfaction.
Any dislikes?
Often, anaesthetists have to decide if a patient is medically fit enough for surgery. It’s tough to make a decision that could signal the end for them. My hours are often also long, and while I can tailor my hours to some degree, with emergencies it’s difficult to make plans or be at home with my children. Also, in private practice anaesthesia is a specialty, so you’re dependent on surgeons for work. This can be challenging in terms of job security.
Any hurdles you’ve had to overcome?
When I started, there were very few people of colour, let alone women with children, specialising. I also had no experience in anaesthesia yet, so it was a steep learning curve. Studying, working full time and still being a wife and mother to a young child was very challenging.
What’s been the highlight of your career to date?
The whole process of relearning, upskilling and doing anaesthesia for complex vascular cases – successfully – has been very rewarding for me. The highlight was being part of the team that performed a novel and groundbreaking procedure, where patients that would otherwise have died, are now being saved.
Experience vs formal training?
I think experience is vital. Each anaesthetic is unique, and you learn from every experience, which in turn allows you to deal with situations as they arise. Formal training doesn’t always prepare you for the unpredictability of patients’ medical conditions or surgical conditions that can occur.
Is there a type of personality best suited to this work?
You need to be meticulous, focused, detail-orientated, calm in stressful situations (a big advantage!) and empathic and caring towards people.