Anesthesiologist vs. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for Plastic Surgery
If you are receiving anesthesia in a hospital or private surgery center, you will typically have either an anesthesiologist (physician) or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) providing your anesthesia and monitoring your vitals during surgery.
This leads some patients to ask us, Which is better? While both anesthesiologists and CRNAs are well-qualified to provide anesthesia care, Dr. Emily Kirby works solely with board-certified anesthesiologists at our on-site Quad A-accredited City Surgery Center in Fort Worth.
Training and certification
Anesthesiologists are doctors who hold a medical degree (MD) and specialize in anesthesia over the next 4 years in a residency program. Anesthesiologists may earn board certification from the The American Board of Anesthesiology, which administers rigorous testing and vets their training and experience before affirming that they are experts in anesthesia care.
During all of Dr. Kirby’s surgeries, anesthesia is administered and monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
CRNAs, also known as nurse anesthetists, typically have a nursing school degree (RN) and have completed a year of critical care nursing (ICU) before completing a nurse anesthetist program, typically 24-51 months in length. While CRNAs have some autonomy when working with patients, they are required to work under a supervising physician in the state of Texas.
Dr. Kirby works with board-certified anesthesiologists
In keeping with our commitment to prioritize your safety, we choose to provide only the best-trained and highest-quality professional to administer your anesthesia: a board-certified anesthesiologist.
Why do other surgeons work with CRNAs?
Other surgeons may choose to hire less costly CRNAs in the operating room. However, CRNAs in Texas can only work under the supervision of a physician. It seems logical that the supervising physician should have training and expertise in Anesthesia, but you may be surprised that this is not always the case.
CRNAs can only work under the supervision of a physician, and we believe that this physician should be an anesthesiologist.
Our anesthesiologists are specifically trained to work with Dr. Kirby, providing the safest level of care and the most comfortable recovery, using her Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. They have many years of training that make them well-equipped to handle any complication that could arise. Choosing the safest route for our patients is imperative.
To learn more about our commitment to patient safety, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kirby, call our Fort Worth office at 817-292-4200. We look forward to helping you meet your goals!
