Anesthesia (anesthesiology in Quebec) is the medical specialty that is interested in the assistance and analgesia service during surgical procedures.

Anesthesia is a prerequisite for performing a surgical, obstetrical or medical act. It eliminates the pain caused by the procedure and reduces it afterwards. Recall that there is two types of anesthesia :

• general anesthesia, which causes loss of consciousness and is comparable to sleep;
• Locoregional anesthesia, which puts only one part of the body to sleep, leaves the patient conscious but does not make him feel any pain.

The anesthesiologist (anesthesiologist in Quebec) takes care of the patients (or part of their body) falling asleep during surgery to prevent them from feeling any pain. He follows them after they wake up and takes care of their post-operative pain.

All surgical procedures require the intervention of an anesthesiologist / anesthesiologist, whether it be cardiac, digestive, eye surgery or even to reduce a fracture. It can also occur during childbirth (epidural anesthesia), hysterectomy or cesarean section (spinal anesthesia).

Before undergoing an operation requiring anesthesia, it is necessary to consult an anesthesiologist-resuscitator / anesthesiologist:

• he checks the state of health of his patient and questions him. He notes his medical and family history. The data collected is recorded in the patient’s medical file and can be consulted on the day of the intervention;
• he suggests the most appropriate anesthesia;
• he informs him about the progress of the anesthesia.

Note that in an emergency, anesthesia is performed without prior consultation with the anesthesiologist / anesthesiologist.

During the operation, he practices anesthesia:

• for general anesthesia, drugs are injected through an infusion or through breathing;
• for a locoregional anesthesia, the product is injected locally to block the nerve innervating the area on which to intervene.

Any anesthesia carries risks. Complications are rare, but can be cardiac, respiratory, neurological, allergic or infectious. General anesthesia can cause vomiting and nausea upon awakening, sore throat, dental trauma, numbness, difficulty concentrating or remembering.

Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor if these symptoms persist. With regard to locoregional anesthesia, the major risks are more or less extensive insensitivity, convulsions, a cardiovascular accident or even injury to a nearby organ.

Anesthesiologist training in France

To become an anesthesiologist, the student must obtain a diploma of specialized studies (DES) in anesthesia-resuscitation:

• he must first follow 6 years at the faculty of medicine, after his baccalaureate;
• at the end of the 6th year, students take the national classifying tests to enter the boarding school. Depending on their classification, they will be able to choose their specialty and their place of practice. The internship lasts 5 years and ends with obtaining the DES in anesthesia-resuscitation.

Finally, to be able to practice and carry the title of doctor, the student must also defend a research thesis.

Anesthesiologist training in Quebec

After college studies, the student must:

• follow a doctorate in medicine, lasting 1 or 4 years (with or without a preparatory year for medicine for students admitted with a college or university training deemed insufficient in basic biological sciences);

 then specialize by following a residency in anesthesiology for 5 years. 

Before going to the appointment with an anesthesiologist / anesthesiologist, it is important to take recent prescriptions, but also your medical file.

To find an anesthesiologist / anesthesiologist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of anesthesiologists of Quebec (3);
• in France, via the website of the National Council of the Order of Physicians (4).

When the consultation is prescribed by an attending physician, it is covered by the Health Insurance (France) or the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.