IRIMC President's speech in the 12th International Congress of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain:

“In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Distinguished Guests,

Dear Colleagues

It is my great pleasure to address my colleagues and the distinguished guests of anaesthesiology community on the auspicious occasion of the International Congress of Anaesthesiology.  Allow me first to pay tribute to all renowned and noted anaesthesiologists who have made significant contributions to national anaesthesiology community and considerably promoted national healthcare system.

In my own name and on behalf of Iranian Medical Council, I would like to convey my heartfelt wishes and greetings to Congress Organizing Committee and all distinguished guests.

The medical expertise of recent generations of anaesthesiologists has significantly expanded the role of the anaesthesiologist. Historically, the anaesthesiologist’s role was limited to that of the physician who administers anaesthesia to suppress pain and consciousness in a patient undergoing surgery. Now, anaesthesiologists also provide medical care in settings other than the operating room. In other words, anaesthesiology has been an integral and crucial part of the medical team.

We can define anaesthesiologist as the perioperative physician- the “all-around” physician responsible for providing medical care to each patient undergoing surgery at all stages. This includes providing the medical evaluation of the patient before surgery (preoperative), holding consultations with surgical team, providing pain control and support of life functions during surgery (intraoperative), supervising care after surgery (postoperative), and discharging the patient from the recovery unit.

Specifically, the anaesthesiologist’s role has moved beyond just the operating room and into other areas of care.

Anaesthesiologists play a vital role in assessing a patient’s medical readiness for surgery. They are unique in their advanced knowledge of both the medical illnesses a patient undergoing surgery may suffer, as well as the effects on the body of the specific operation to be performed.

In the operating room, they are responsible for the medical management and anaesthetic care of the patient throughout the duration of the surgery. The anaesthesiologist must carefully match the anaesthetic needs of each patient to that patient’s medical condition, responses to anaesthesia and the requirements of the surgery.

Anaesthesiologists have important functions outside of the operating room including monitoring patient and discharging him/her from the recovery unit.

The domains of functions of anaesthesiologists can be summarised as:

Preoperative Evaluation, Intraoperative Care, the Postanaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or “Recovery Room”, Critical Care and Trauma Medicine, Intensive Care Units: Burn ICU, Neuro ICU, VA ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Surgical ICU; Pain Medicine, Acute Pain Management, Chronic and Cancer Pain Management, Obstetric Anaesthesia, and Ambulatory and Office-Based Anaesthesia.

Some of the most significant strides in medicine and surgery are directly attributable to anaesthesiology’s advances in patient monitoring, improved anaesthetic agents and new drug therapy.

Most recent advances have contributed to an important decrease in morbidity from anaesthesia and to an increase in quality of perioperative care. The anaesthesiologists participate in research and clinical studies as well as medical education programs and legislative activities.

In the past, complications caused by the use of anaesthesia were a medical issue, however during the past 25 years, complications have significantly declined. Despite the growing need for anaesthesia and the increasing of the total number of anaesthesiologists practicing nationwide, patient outcome have improved.

Now, it is safe to say that anaesthesia is less risky than ever.

A close ally to Iranian Medical Council, Iranian Association of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care is one of the most established and distinguished  medical associations which has made significant contributions to the science of anaesthesiology resulting in achieving highest possible standards in anaesthesiology nationwide.

As the President of Iranian Medical Council, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the academicians, scholars and medical scientists in the field of anaesthesiology for their consistent efforts and contributions to national health system.

Thank you for your attention.”