How involved does the anaesthetist get with the actual operation being undertaken by the surgeon? Do they contribute opinion on what the surgeon does?

Absolutely! The anaesthetist plays a major role in the success of any surgical procedure. Generally speaking, the anaesthetist helps ensure that the patient is free from pain and is safe throughout the entire process.

Before and during surgery, an anaesthetist will assess overall patient health and make sure they are physically prepared for operation. They provide creative solutions to medical problems which can arise unexpectedly in complex cases, such as making decisions on what kind of analgesia or sedation to use based on a patient's individual needs.

The anaesthetist also monitors vital signs before, during, and after surgery - checking pulse rate, blood pressure levels and respiration cycle - so they can rapidly respond to any developing changes or irregularities with immediate action. During long procedures where there may be additional risks associated with general anesthesia, an experienced anaesthetist will work closely with other members of the surgical team as part of their continuous monitoring activities.

Moreover, due to their expertise in observing patients while under general anesthesia (and sometimes regional) they are ideally placed to offer advice mid-operation should issues develop during delicate operations like cardiothoracic surgery . This includes offering sound advice on techniques that could reduce duration times for certain procedures too.

So you see it’s clear that the Anaesthetists definitely contribute opinions when operating alongside surgeons!