A pediatric anesthesiologist has completed specialized training in anesthesia care for infants, children and teenagers. When a child needs surgery or a procedure requires the child to be still or may cause pain, the anesthesiologist can combine the right types of medicine to make sure the child is safe and comfortable.
Pediatric anesthesiologists often work with surgeons and deliver care in the operating room, but they may be involved in sedating or anesthetizing a child for procedures outside the OR, such as a biopsy, a lumbar puncture, a CT scan or an MRI. The pediatric anesthesiologist provides the safest level of sedation and care for infants and children undergoing anesthesia. Their goal is to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible, helping to manage the child’s anxiety before surgery and pain afterward.