Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/26/2008

Question
Let me start off by saying I'm very thankful of all the questions you've answered here. They have helped me out a lot in picking my career.

I've been thinking about going into medical to become an Anesthesiologist but before I make it final, I have a few more questions.

One of the main reasons I did not want to become a surgeon is because I don't want to cut somebody open and have to feel around inside.
Would I have to do anything of this sort as an Anesthesiologist? Will I have to pay attention to how the Surgeon is doing the surgery or just to how the patient is reacting?
How often will I be required to stick a needle in someones arm during a surgery?
How long does an average surgery last?
How many patients die yearly? Are alot of the deaths the Anesthesiologists fault?

Also, I was concerned about the work hours.
Is it worth it?
Would a job that pays 100,000 a year and only requires 8 hours a day on weekdays be better or would being an Anesthesiologist be better?

Here's one of my major concerns:
How much free time do you have?
Say its Christmas time. Do you get a lot of time off?
Do you have time to go to a different state to spend a while with your family?
Or say its friday afternoon and your friends want to go watch a movie. You just got out of work. Are you usually too tired? If not, can you go without being worried about being called back to work? How much free time do you have on the weekends?

Thanks!

Answer
A lot of questions!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Would I have to do anything of this sort as an Anesthesiologist?

No, although you do have to do some percutaneous procedures

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Will I have to pay attention to how the Surgeon is doing the surgery or just to how the patient is reacting?

Both. You need to know what the surgeon is doing so you can adjust your anesthetic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How often will I be required to stick a needle in someones arm during a surgery?

Every case needs at least one IV and usually 2. Plus you may need to put a central line or arterial catheter.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How long does an average surgery last?

any where from a few minutes to 10 or more hours. It depends on the type of surgery. On average I guess a couple of hours.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How many patients die yearly? Are alot of the deaths the Anesthesiologists fault?

I don't have an exact # but it depends on many factors. Very few die because of mistakes by surgeons or anesthesiologist but many do die because of their underlying disease.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Also, I was concerned about the work hours.
Is it worth it?
Would a job that pays 100,000 a year and only requires 8 hours a day on weekdays be better or would being an Anesthesiologist be better?

I can't answer that. You first have to love what you do and then decide if the money is worth it. During my residency training I worked between 110 and 130 hours per week for $36,000/yr (in 1988). But I love my work so I accept that. If what you're looking for is an 8 hr workday without weekends, don't go into Anesthesiology.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How much free time do you have?

Depends on what type of practice you have. but generally you have 2 -3 weekends off per month.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Say its Christmas time. Do you get a lot of time off?

Depends on what type of practice you have. In a private practice you probably couldn't take Christmas off every year because your partners migth want it also and hospitals don't close for holidays.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Do you have time to go to a different state to spend a while with your family?

During your vacation time, yes.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Or say its friday afternoon and your friends want to go watch a movie. You just got out of work. Are you usually too tired?

I'm not but again, that's personal.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If not, can you go without being worried about being called back to work?

If you are in private practice and take call from home you might get called back but if you are in an academic program, if you're off, you're off.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How much free time do you have on the weekends?

If I'm not on call, the whole weekend.

Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston