Cardiac Anesthesiologists administer anesthesia and manage its effects on patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and related invasive procedures of the human chest. They are primarily responsible for dispensing pain relief drugs to the patients before, during and after surgery.

Cardiac Anesthesiologists review the patient’s medical history during surgical procedure. They oversee the vital signs and condition of the surgical patient such as body temperature, pulse, breathing, blood pressure etc. to administer anesthesia properly. They also ensure the patient’s safety throughout the operation and manage postoperative pain.

Cardiac Anesthesiologists are employed in both government and private health care settings such as hospitals, clinics, trauma centers etc. These professionals often work for long and irregular hours in stressful environments. They also have to perform emergency visits on call.

Educational Requirements

To become a Cardiac Anesthesiologist, aspiring candidates must have to earn a medical degree from an accredited medical school. In addition, they need to complete a four-year residency program in anesthesiology, and a one-year cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The coursework for Cardiac Anesthesiologists includes anatomy, biology, organic Chemistry, physics etc. with emphasizing on anesthesia, pain relief techniques and information on heart care.

Licensure and Certification

Since the practice of Cardiac Anesthesiologist in USA needs to be licensed, the aspiring candidates must have to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination after completing the medical degree program. These professionals can obtain certification from the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Board of Anesthesiology, after successfully completing required examination.

Skill Set

Besides the clinical knowledge, Cardiac Anesthesiologists possess various skills such as dedication to work in challenging situation, empathy towards patient, high medical ethics, ability to remain calm under pressure, work with compassion, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, decision making and management abilities, physical stamina to work for long hours, computer skills etc.

Salary & Job Outlook

Job outlook for the Cardiac Anesthesiologists remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 24% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Cardiac Anesthesiologists was $235,070 in May 2013.