Build Your Career as an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist: An Ultimate Guide

Are you someone who can work in extremely stressful and critical situations? Do you want to help patients and take extra care during and after their surgeries? Do you know that the number of patients undergoing surgeries/operations per day in India has increased drastically? If you are someone who can handle pressure and work in a critical environment then you should definitely think about a career in Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technology. Read on and find out about this in-demand career.

Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologists are responsible for providing direct and indirect patient care, setting up equipment and preparing the patient for operation. They assist the surgeons (as well as anaesthesiologists) during the procedures; monitor and evaluate the patient before, during and after the surgery.

Why become an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist?

Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologists are specialized healthcare professionals who prepare operation theatres for surgeries; regularly monitor various equipment and devices in operations theatres; assist anesthesiologists to provide anaesthesia to patients before surgical operations begin; assist surgical teams and provide pre- & post-operative critical care, trauma care, and pain management to patients.

So before we move further with the roles and responsibilities of both Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist, let us define both these separately and get a clear idea of who Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologists are and what they do.

Although both Operation Theatre Technologists and Anaesthesia Technologists play a vital role in intensive care units and emergency care, they assist surgeons and anesthesiologists. An Operation Theatre Technologist sets up, prepares and handles the equipment and devices in the operation theatre. They work alongside surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and nurses to provide necessary patient care throughout the surgery and even post-surgery i.e. in the recovery room.

Therefore, as Operation Theatre Technologist, you would manage activities taking place in the operation theatre. You would make sure all the equipment to be used in the operation is functioning; supervise operation theatre technicians; ensure the equipment are ready before surgery in working condition. Examples of equipment used are an anaesthesia machine, single or multichannel monitor, pulse oximeter, diathermy machine, C-arm, OT table, OT light, etc.

As an Anaesthesia Technologist, you would be working under the direct command of an Anaesthesiologist (an Anaesthesiologist is a doctor that administers anaesthesia and other medicines to patients undergoing surgery). You would assist anaesthesiologists and monitor the patient before, during, and after the operation to make sure the patient gets the right amount of pain medication.

As an Anaesthesia Technologist you would assist in the administration and monitoring of anaesthesia; make sure the process of giving anaesthesia to the patient is as per the patient’s requirement; monitor the instruments and tools being used; keep a track of all the supplies as well as monitor vital signs and other measures that show how a patient is reacting to the anaesthesia.

So, in a nutshell

Both Operation Theatre Technologist and Anaesthesia Technologist are responsible for providing direct and indirect patient care, setting up equipment and preparing the patient for operation. They assist the surgeons (as well as anaesthesiologists) during the procedures; monitor and evaluate the patient before, during and after the surgery.

What do Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologists do?

As an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist, you would be engaged in one of the many roles and responsibilities:

1. You would be involved in checking OT equipment for malfunctions and defects (e.g. Anaesthesia machine, suction apparatus, cautery machine, C-ARM, microscope, medical gases, etc.).
2. You would ensure the availability of drugs and consumables for the patient (e.g. checking of anesthesia trolley).
3. You would operate and maintain all the medical equipment in the operation theatre.
4. You would ensure a central supply of oxygen and nitrous oxide, central suction available, and are in working condition.
5. You would assist anaesthetists and surgeons during surgery at the time of intubation, and extubation, keep drugs for IV infusions and blood transfusions and also have the knowledge to face any emergency situation.
6. You would also ensure the anaesthetic machine is ready with the following ET tube, jelly, airways pray, plasters, eye ointment, injections, syringes, and intravenous infusion materials.
7. You would assist anaesthetist for general anaesthesia, spinal, epidural and local anaesthesia.
8. You would perform daily checks of all anesthetizing locations to insure appropriate equipment is available and functioning properly.
9. You would be involved in providing technical support to the anaesthesia professional staff in the pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative areas for the delivery of safe, efficient, ad cost-effective anaesthesia care.
10. You would also maintain the availability of necessary equipment in each operating room.

How to become an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist – eligibility criteria

After completing higher secondary education you can go for B.Sc. in Operation Theatre Technology/ Anaesthesia Technology and start working directly as Operation Theatre Technologist/ Anaesthesia Technologist.

After completing higher secondary education you can pursue a Diploma in Operation Theatre Technology/ Anaesthesia Technology. After completing the diploma you need to work for a minimum of 2 years as OT Technician/ Anaesthesia Technician and then become Operation Theatre Technologist/ Anaesthesia Technician.

Educational fees

The fees for becoming an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist in India may vary depending on the institution and location. However, here is a general idea of the fees:

1. Diploma in Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technology: The fees for this program range from INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000 depending on the institution and location.
2. Bachelor’s degree in Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technology: The fees for this program range from INR 1,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 depending on the institution and location.
3. Master’s degree in Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technology: The fees for this program range from INR 50,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending on the institution and location.

Job Opportunities

After completing the required education and training, as an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist, you will work in emergency rooms, trauma centres, intensive care units (ICUs), outpatient surgery clinics, Pre-anaesthesia clinics and Pain clinics of the following:

Government/Private hospitals such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, RML, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Gangaram Hospital, Medanta, Apollo, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, Care Hospital, Artemis, etc.

Salary of an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist

As a Technician at the Entry level, you may earn around   Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month.

At the Junior-level with an experience of 1- 4 years, you may earn around Rs. 35, 000 – 85,000 per month or more.

At Mid-level with an experience of 5-12 years, you may earn around Rs. 45, 000 – 1,25,000 per month or more.

At Senior-level with an experience of 12-20 years, you may earn around Rs. 65,000 – 2,00,000 per month or more.

Career Progression in an Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist profession

After having completed the required education and training, in most government medical research institutes and hospitals, you may begin as an Operation Theatre Technician and then progress as:

Junior Operation Theatre Technician – Operation Theatre Technician – Senior Operation Theatre Technician – Operation Theatre In charge – Operation Theatre Manager

In order to be eligible for higher posts in Anaesthesia department you need to pursue a degree in medicine and gain work experience in the related field. You would start as an Anaesthesia Technician and then you may progress as:

Junior Anaesthesia Technician – Anaesthesia Technician – Anaesthesia Technologist – – Anaesthesiologist – Senior Anaesthesiologist – Head of the Department/Chairman

What do industry trends say – Future Prospects

According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the healthcare sector in India is one of the fastest growing sectors and will reach to an estimate of around $ 8.6 Trillion i.e. Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16-17% by the year 2020. India has also become a one-stop destination for high-end diagnostic services and is attracting a number of capital advancements for advanced diagnostic facilities.

The Indian Medical device market is growing rapidly and there is substantial demand for specialized and high-tech medical equipment. The current market size of the industry is estimated to be $11bn and has the potential to grow at 28% per annum by the year 2025. Therefore the demand for Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologist would be high in the upcoming years.

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