Anesthesiologists and job satisfaction in cardiac cath lab: Do we need guidelines?

Abstract

Cardiac cath lab procedures are developing in numbers, complexities and in demands with good outcomes. The complexicity of procedures and high risk patient factors require efficient cardiac anaesthesiologist's care. They need good infrastructure and anaesthesia facilities. These facilities may be available at Metrocity superspeciality centres, but small units at district levels may not have all these facilities. There are many issues existing which make cardiac anaesthesiologists to prefer to work only in cardiac operation theaters than cath lab. They don't get the job satisfaction in cath lab because of higher stress levels to overcome with the lacunaes in cath lab working. Aim: We hypothesize that cath lab in various centres are run by cardiac anaesthesiologists in majority. To analyze the infrastructure and working conditions of cath lab in perspective of anaesthesiologist, we conducted this survey. Setting and Design: Online survey among IACTA members, through email available through IACTA site. The link was https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9FKZ3TV. Subjects and Methods: We contacted 500 IACTA members through email addresses available with us. 116 members replied to the online questionnaire done using SurveyMonkey software. Total 12 questions asked and answers analysed. The identity of responders is not disclosed by Survey monkey. Results: Results were analysed in for options in percentage wise by Surveymonkey software.we compiled all responses and categorized the suggestions by responders. Conclusion: Role of anaesthesiologist and anaesthesia facilities should be given important priority in cath lab units. Healthy attitude of governing members of cathlab as well as standard guidelines for recommendation of infrastructure of cath lab, monitoring and patient care is need of the hour!.