Anesthetic technician

An anesthetic technician is an allied healthcare worker who performs a patient care role predominantly assisting with the administration and monitoring of anesthesia and has an extensive knowledge of anesthesia techniques, instruments, supplies and technology.

Anesthetic technicians use infusion pumps to deliver medications.

Drug ampoules contain small amounts of medications.

Anesthetic technicians are mainly employed by anesthetic departments or operating theatre suites, but can be found in other areas of clinical practice including emergency departments, intensive care units (ICU) and day surgery clinics.

Role description

Anesthetic technicians are involved with all aspects of the delivery of a patient's perioperative anesthetic care,[1] taking into account the patients' religious and cultural beliefs and respecting their right to medical privacy and dignity at all times. Anesthetic Technicians’ also provide a key role in the emergency resuscitation of patients.

Prior to anesthesia

Anesthetic technicians prepare equipment needed for the patient to safely undergo anesthesia. This involves:

checking and setting up the anesthetic machine
preparing intravenous drugs
preparing intravenous therapy administration equipment
preparing a range of devices to maintain the patient's airway (e.g. laryngeal masks, endotracheal tube)
communicating with the patient when they arrive into the operating theatre
establish peripheral intravenous access.
applying anesthetic monitoring to help assess the patients' condition whilst under anesthesia. This may include electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure and oxygen saturation devices. The monitoring of other parameters such as anesthesia depth monitors (EEG, bispectral index etc.) may also be necessary.

During anesthesia

The anesthetic technicians role includes assisting with:

inducing and maintaining adequate anesthesia.
establishing and securing an airway.
making sure that patients are positioned in such a way NOT to cause discomfort or injury during their procedure.
monitoring and maintaining patients' vital signs and anesthesia depth.
temperature monitoring and regulation.
collection and analysis of patient (blood) samples.
acquiring and administering transfusion fluids and equipment.

After anesthesia

Anesthetic technicians assist the anesthetic with:

waking the patient.
removing airway devices.
transferring patients to post-operative care units

Other activities

Regional variations exist, but anesthetic technicians may also be involved with:

American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians

American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians (ASATT), acknowledges the scope of practice for the Anesthesia technical personnel. The commitment of ASATT is to ensure that efficient, safe, competent, and ethical practices are provided to society and maintaining professional standards of practice. ASATT acknowledges that the Anesthesia technical personnel are a part of the Anesthesia care team as listed in the practice guidelines of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).[2] This position should not be confused with that of an anesthesiologist assistant who actively participates as a licensed anesthesia provider.

Certified Anesthesia Technician

Certified Anesthesia Technologist

Associate & Bachelors Programs

City College (Florida)
Grossmont College
Milwaukee Area Technical College
North Seattle Community College - Online
Renton Technical College
Sanford-Brown Institute - Houston
Sanford-Brown Institute - Iselin
Sanford-Brown Institute - Pittsburgh
Sanford-Brown College - St. Peters
Skyline College
Stony Brook University
Tarrant County College

References

NZATS Scope of Practice
"ASATT - Standards of Practice". American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians. Archived from the original on 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-10-27.

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[1] NZATS Scope of Practice

[2] "ASATT - Standards of Practice". American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians. Archived from the original on 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-10-27.

Anesthesia and anesthesiology
Types	General Sedation Twilight anesthesia Local Topical Intercostal nerve block Neuraxial blockade Spinal Epidural Dental Inferior alveolar nerve
Techniques	Airway management Anesthesia provision in the US Arterial catheter Bronchoscopy Capnography Dogliotti's principle Drug-induced amnesia Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring Nerve block Penthrox inhaler Tracheal intubation
Scientific principles	Blood–gas partition coefficient Concentration effect Fink effect Minimum alveolar concentration Second gas effect
Measurements	ASA physical status classification system Baricity Bispectral index Entropy monitoring Fick principle Goldman index Guedel's classification Mallampati score Neuromuscular monitoring Thyromental distance
Instruments	Anaesthetic machine Anesthesia cart Boyle's machine Gas cylinder Laryngeal mask airway Laryngeal tube Medical monitor Odom's indicator Relative analgesia machine Vaporiser Double-lumen endotracheal tube Endobronchial blocker
Complications	Allergic reactions Anesthesia awareness Effects of early-life exposures to anesthesia on the brain Emergence delirium Local anesthetic toxicity Malignant hyperthermia Perioperative mortality Postanesthetic shivering Postoperative nausea and vomiting Postoperative residual curarization
Subspecialties	Cardiothoracic Critical emergency medicine Geriatric Intensive care medicine Obstetric Oral sedation dentistry Pain medicine
Professions	Anesthesiologist Anesthesiologist assistant Nurse anesthetist Operating department practitioners Certified Anesthesia Technician Certified Anesthesia Technologist Anaesthetic technician Physicians' assistant (anaesthesia)
History	ACE mixture Helsinki Declaration for Patient Safety in Anaesthesiology History of general anesthesia History of neuraxial anesthesia History of tracheal intubation
Organizations	American Association of Nurse Anesthetists American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians American Society of Anesthesiologists Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland Royal College of Anaesthetists Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Australian Society of Anaesthetists International Anesthesia Research Society
Category Outline