The Anesthesiology elective is designed to give the medical student the opportunity to observe and participate in the administration of inpatient and outpatient operative anesthesia, obstetrical anesthesia, and the diagnosis and management of chronic pain syndromes. The student, under the close supervision of the resident and attending staff, will participate in the administration of inhalation and conduction anesthesia and the use of diagnostic and therapeutic regional anesthetic techniques. The student will learn principles of preoperative evaluation, and the physiological and pharmacological management of the patient undergoing surgery. Points to be emphasized include airway management, monitoring techniques, the interpretation of laboratory values obtained intraoperatively and the pharmacology of the anesthetic agents and other drugs used in patient management.

An introductory textbook of anesthesiology will be loaned to each student. The student is expected to complete this book during the elective. The student is also expected to attend weekly departmental lectures and conferences. Every effort will be made to tailor the elective to the specific clinical interest of each student. Additional rotations during the elective may be arranged on an individual basis.