Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Department

The anaesthetist’s work is often little known but it is fundamental for optimal and safe patient care. Indeed, before anything else, it is the anaesthetist who evaluates the patient’s state of health before, during and after the operation, the surgeon essentially taking care of the intervention.

• Before the operation: the first evaluation is done during a pre-operative consultation, 10 to 15 days before the procedure, in order to be able, if necessary, to prescribe specific investigations. The patient is seen again the day before the procedure. Objective: to evaluate and “treat” any anxiety on his/her part, which is especially common in cancer cases, particularly the day before an operation!
• After the operation:the anesthesiologist identifies the risk factors to avoid possible complications. He also takes care of the postoperative treatment. In case of heavy treatment, patients are cared for at the USPA (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) under the responsibility of a permanent anaesthetist. Several actors are concerted during the stay, including the surgeons. The other patients go through the recovery room before returning to the ward.
• Pain management: during hospitalisation anaesthetists are involved daily with the analgesia of the patients operated on, but also of the patients hospitalised for medical treatment and who require analgesic treatment. This is generally done in consultation with the “pain” staff or in the supportive care unit.
• Participation in the working groups of the different surgical disciplines in order to optimize the patient's care pathway as much as possible.
• Participation in research and teaching: mission of an academic hospital