Georgetown University Medical Center

Anesthesia

Section: departments

Young D. Kim, MD, Chair 

Experience in the field of anesthesia is available to the student as a two-week elective in the third-year surgical rotation and as a four-week elective in the fourth year. The student participates in the preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management, and postoperative care of patients receiving anesthesia. 

Under the guidance of attending staff, the student learns principles of local, regional, and general anesthesia. Special emphasis is placed on: preanesthetic assessment; ordering of preanesthetic medication; appropriate administration of intraoperative fluids and electrolytes; intraoperative monitoring; proper airway and ventilatory management; rationale for choosing various anesthetic agents; techniques; principles of pain management; and risks of anesthesia. Practical application of physiological and pharmacological principles is stressed, and clinical work is supplemented by participation in daily rounds, lectures, inservices, and departmental conferences. The student is also introduced to the various research projects and clinical investigations undertaken by the department.