Anaesthetic Technician
Encyclopedia
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
) or anesthesia technician (US English) is an allied healthcare worker
Health care provider
A health care provider is an individual or an institution that provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to individuals, families or communities....
who assists with the administration and monitoring of anaesthesia and has an extensive knowledge of anaesthesia techniques, instruments, supplies, and technology.
Anaesthetic technicians are mainly employed by anaesthetic departments or operating theatre
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
suites, but can be found in other areas of clinical practice including emergency department
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
s, intensive care unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
s (ICU) and day surgery clinics.
Job description
Anaesthetic technicians are involved with all aspects of the delivery of a patient's perioperative anaesthetic care, taking into account the patients' religious and cultural beliefs and respecting their right to medical privacyMedical privacy
The main subject of medical privacy or health privacy is the 'medical record' which historically has been a paper file of the entire medical history of the patient. Various electronic forms of medical records have existed in western countries, but mostly in an unintegrated fashion. This lack of...
and dignity at all times.
Prior to anaesthesia
Anaesthetic technicians prepare equipment needed for the patient to safely undergo anaesthesia. This involves:- checking and setting up the anaesthetic machineAnaesthetic machineThe anaesthetic machine is used by anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists to support the administration of anaesthesia...
- preparing intravenous drugs
- preparing intravenous therapyIntravenous therapyIntravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
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 anaesthetic monitoring to help assess the patients' condition whilst under anaesthesia. This may include electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressureBlood pressureBlood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
and oxygen saturationOxygen saturationOxygen saturation or dissolved oxygen is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen that is dissolved or carried in a given medium. It can be measured with a dissolved oxygen probe such as an oxygen sensor or an optode in liquid media, usually water.It has particular significance in medicine and...
devices. The monitoring of other parameters such as anaesthesia depth monitors (EEG, bispectral indexBispectral indexBispectral index is one of several technologies which purport to monitor depth of anesthesia. BIS monitors are intended to replace or supplement Guedel's classification system for determining depth of anesthesia...
etc.) may also be necessary.
During anaesthesia
The anaesthetic technicians role includes assisting with:- inducing and maintaining adequate anaesthesia.
- 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 patients' vital signsVital signsVital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. The act of taking vital signs normally entails recording body temperature, pulse rate ,...
and anaesthesia depth. - temperature monitoring and regulation.
- collection and analysis of patient (bloodBloodBlood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
) samples. - acquiring transfusion fluids and equipment.
After anaesthesia
Anaesthetic technicians assist the anaesthetist with:- waking the patient.
- removing airway devices.
Other activities
Regional variations exist, but anaesthetic technicians may also be involved with:- Intra-operative intra-aortic balloon pump setup, operating and monitoringIntra-aortic balloon pumpThe Intra-aortic balloon pump ' is a mechanical device that increases myocardial oxygen perfusion while at the same time increasing cardiac output. Increasing cardiac output increases coronary blood flow and therefore myocardial oxygen delivery...
. - Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter insertion and monitoringPulmonary artery catheterIn medicine pulmonary artery catheterization is the insertion of a catheter into a pulmonary artery. Its purpose is diagnostic; it is used to detect heart failure or sepsis, monitor therapy, and evaluate the effects of drugs...
. - Intra-operative blood salvage setup, operating and monitoringIntraoperative blood salvageIntraoperative blood salvage, also known as autologous blood salvage, is a medical procedure involving recovering blood lost during surgery and re-infusing it into the patient....
. - Arterial blood gas analysis, including maintenance of analysersArterial blood gasAn arterial blood gas is a blood test that is performed using blood from an artery. It involves puncturing an artery with a thin needle and syringe and drawing a small volume of blood. The most common puncture site is the radial artery at the wrist, but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or...
. - Arterial line insertion and monitoringArterial lineAn arterial line, or art-line, or a-line, is a thin catheter inserted into an artery. It is most commonly used in intensive care medicine and anesthesia to monitor the blood pressure real-time , and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas measurements. It is not generally used to administer...
. - Peripheral IV line insertion.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitationCardiopulmonary resuscitationCardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
. - Central IV lines.
- TEG SamplingThromboelastographyThrombelastography is a method of testing the efficiency of coagulation in the blood. It was first developed by the German Dr. Hellmut Hartert at University of Heidelberg School of Medicine in 1948...
.
Anaesthetic Technicians in 
New Zealand
Anaesthetic Technicians work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses and support workers. The New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians SocietyNZATS
The New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians' Society - A body representing Anaesthetic Technicians' in New Zealand.Anaesthetic Technicians are healthcare workers employed in the New Zealand health service. Anaesthetic Technicians work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that includes doctors,...
currently hold a voluntary register of members.
Registration
Anaesthetic technicians have been accepted as needing registration as a profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 . This group are in the final stages of sourcing a regulatory body. Regulation is an important step in the future growth of this group within New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
healthcare and will mirror recent changes within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
regarding similarly trained personnel obtaining registration with the Health Professions Council
Health Professions Council
The Health Professions Council is a statutory regulator of 210,000 health professionals from 15 professions in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 2003 under the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, to replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine ....
.
Qualification
After a recent review and restructuring of the existing qualification for anaesthetic technicians in New Zealand, a Diploma of Applied Science (Anaesthetic Technology) is now the national base qualification. This is studied for through Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland University of Technology
The Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand. It was formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. Its primary campus is on Wellesley Street in Auckland's Central business district...
. Other (international) qualifications may also be acceptable for working as an Anaesthetic Technician in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The amount of practical clinical hours required are laid out by the Australia & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, professional document PS8.
Registration
Anaesthetic Technicians in Australia through Australasian Society of Paramedical Officers (ASAPO)participate in a Voluntary Registration process and are working with the government to introduce Manadatory Regulation. This will assist in reducing the number of deregistered practitioners from other countries seeking work in Australia. Minimum requirements for Voluntary Registration is completion of the nationally accredited Diploma of Paramedical Science(Anaesthesia) or in Western Australia and some hospitals in Victoria Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology.Health training package
Nationally recognised Diploma in Paramedical Science (Anaethesia) and in Western Australia and some hospitals in Victoria Certificate IV in Anaesthetic Technology.Qualification
- Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Integrated Care Management New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) - Southbank Institute of Technology QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
- The recognised minimum qualifications in Western Australia
Anesthesia Technicians in the 
United States
In the United States, the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & TechniciansAmerican Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians
The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians, or ASATT, based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is a non-profit, educational organization responsible for the standards of technologist/technician competency in all areas of anesthesia....
(ASATT), acknowledges the scope of practice for the anaesthesia 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 anaesthesia technical personnel are a part of the anaesthesia care team as listed in the practice guidelines of the American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Anesthesiologists
The American Society of Anesthesiologists is an association of physicians, primarily anesthesiologists, that share a common goal of raising the standard of the medical specialty of anesthesiology and the improvement of patient care by fostering and encouraging education through research and...
(ASA).
Associate & Bachelors Programs
- City College (Florida)City College (Florida)City College is a private coeducational four-year college located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school was founded in 1984 as a branch of Draughons Junior College, before becoming a separate school in 1989. In addition to its main campus, City College has two branch campuses in Gainesville and...
http://www.citycollege.edu/programs/anesthesia-technology.htm - Grossmont CollegeGrossmont CollegeGrossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...
http://www.grossmont.edu/cte/anesthesiatech/at.htm - Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee Area Technical College is a two-year vocational-technical college based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MATC offers day, evening, and weekend classes at campuses in downtown Milwaukee, Oak Creek, West Allis, and Mequon. Enrollment is about 60,000...
http://www.matc.edu/student/offerings/antech.html - North Seattle Community College - Onlinehttps://northseattle.edu/programs/anesthesia-technical-services
- Renton Technical CollegeRenton Technical CollegeRenton Technical College , also known as Renton Tech, is a public two-year institution located in the Renton Highlands of Renton, Washington within the Seattle metropolitan area...
http://www.rtc.edu/programs/trainingprograms/AnesthesiaTechnician/index.aspx - Sanford-Brown Institute - HoustonSanford-Brown Institute - HoustonSanford-Brown Institute - Houston is a for-profit college. It opened in 2000 when the Bellaire campus, which originally opened in 1992, was relocated to Houston, Texas...
http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/Houston - Sanford-Brown Institute - IselinSanford-Brown Institute - IselinSanford–Brown Institute – Iselin opened in 1984. The school is an additional location of the main Sanford-Brown campus in Jacksonville, Florida....
http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/Iselin - Sanford-Brown Institute - Pittsburgh http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/Pittsburgh
- Sanford-Brown College - St. PetersSanford-Brown College - St. PetersThe Sanford Brown College in Saint Peters, Missouri, is a for-profit school that grants specialized associate degrees designed to be completed within a year. In January 2008, the school received approval to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree...
http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/St-Peters - Stony Brook University http://www.hsc.stonybrook.edu/shtm/bshs/crequirements.cfm?id=at