The Society of Perioperative Physician Anaesthesiologists (SOPPA) conducted a half-day scientific programme at KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, on Sunday.
SOPPA, India’s first association dedicated to perioperative physician anaesthesiologists, was officially formed in Hyderabad in August 2024. The association has more than 120 anaesthesiologists and aims to standardise and validate the role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians.
The objective of the scientific programme was to authenticate and validate the standards set by SOPPA for the recognition of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians by the medical fraternity, particularly surgeons and the National Medical Commission (NMC). “Acceptance as a capable perioperative physician in the eyes of the court of law,” said Dr S Kalyani while outlining the objectives and goals of SOPPA.
Dr Raja Narsing Rao, Secretary of SOPPA, delivered the opening remarks and stated that an anaesthesiologist is a perioperative physician responsible for managing a patient’s care before, during, and after surgery. “They are responsible for the patient’s overall medical management throughout the perioperative period,” he said.
Prof (Dr) Manimala Rao delivered the foundational lecture, while Prof (Dr) N Satyanarayana, President of SOPPA, spoke on the expanded role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians. “Anaesthesiologist is an invisible doctor,” he said.
Dr Satyanarayana emphasised that anaesthesiologists should be capable of managing common comorbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, lung infections, and COPD before and after surgery. He said their role should extend beyond administering anaesthesia to functioning as perioperative physicians.
Dr Satyanarayana noted that anaesthesiologists are trained as physicians, but there is no uniformity in their practice across the country. Postgraduate training programmes include case discussions and clinical scenarios covering comorbid disease management. However, the role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians is currently limited to individual practitioners or specific institutions. Specialist consultations are typically sought only for critically ill patients, major surgeries, or medico-legal concerns.
Dr Raja Narsing Rao stated that in most hospitals, surgeons refer patients with comorbidities to specialists such as general physicians, cardiologists, or pulmonologists for pre-surgical assessment. These specialists determine fitness based on disease severity but do not always consider anaesthetic drug interactions or potential complications. “Anaesthesiologists, due to their physician training, are well-versed in the medications used for comorbid conditions and their interactions with anaesthetic drugs,” he said.
Dr Raja Narsing Rao highlighted that anaesthesiologists’ expertise in drug interactions is a significant advantage in perioperative care. “Medications prescribed for comorbid conditions can interact with anaesthetic drugs, leading to potential complications,” he said. He added that anaesthesiologists can preemptively adjust dosages or modify drug regimens before surgery to prevent such complications.
Dr S. Kalyani said SOPPA aims to establish uniformity in the role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians nationwide. “We would like to recommend to the National Medical Council (NMC) that anaesthesiologists be formally recognised as competent physicians,” she said. Anaesthesiologists at the scientific programme stated that SOPPA would advocate for legal recognition in courts based on NMC acknowledgment.
SOPPA and AIG Hospitals will jointly organise the first Perioperative Medicine Conclave at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, on 22 and 23 March 2025. “This conference will bring together perioperative physicians (anaesthesiologists) from around the globe to explore the evolving field of perioperative medicine, which focuses on the comprehensive care of surgical patients from preoperative assessment to postoperative recovery,” said Dr Sunil T Pandya, a SOPPA member and Chief of the Department of Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine & Critical Care at AIG Hospitals.
Dr Pandya added that perioperative medicine is gaining recognition as a critical component of patient care. “This multidisciplinary approach not only improves patient safety but also enhances overall surgical success,” he said.
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