Anaesthesiologists Reanimatologists: We are Patient’s Guardians

An anaesthesiologist is, in most cases, the last person a patient sees before the surgery starts and the first person the patient sees after the surgery.

“We are the patient’s guardians throughout their journey in the operating room,” says Marius Rimaitis, a anaesthesiologist reanimatologist at Kaunas Clinics (Kauno Klinikos) of the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU).

Having “inherited” his interest in anaesthesiology and reanimatology from his father and graduated from LSMU, the doctor is more than a practitioner – he his engaged in academic work sharing his expertise with LSMU students.

“Working at a university hospital provides endless challenges for an anaesthesiologist reanimatologist. Patients with the most complex pathologies are brought here, and their treatment requires immediate response, agile clinical thinking, and the ability to make unconventional decisions.

The hardest part is realising that, despite your best efforts, the patient’s prognosis is poor. On the other hand, the excitement of helping to save a person’s health or life helps to forget all the difficulties,” he says.

Knowledge drives the motivation to grow

Growing up in Kaunas, in a family of doctors, M. Rimaitis admired the meaningful and noble work of his parents from childhood. He was doing well at school and knew well in advance that he would choose a medical profession.

“I wasn’t too naïve – even before my university studies I had witnessed others making it on the challenging path to becoming a doctor, but my desire to do the work that makes a difference was stronger. The choice to study at LSMU was very well thought through and clear, and I have never doubted my decision,” said M. Rimaitis.

Although not easy, the medical studies were comprehensive and of high quality. The most impressive aspect was the alignment between fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines. It was a pleasure to study alongside highly motivated students under the guidance of highly qualified teachers.

Upon graduation, M. Rimaitis chose an anaesthesiology-reanimatology residency, after which he started working as an anaesthesiologist-reanimation physician at Kaunas Clinics almost ten years ago.

“I inherited my interest in anaesthesiology-reanimatology from my dad. Seeing how much he loved the job, I expected it to be a very interesting specialty, and I was right. My dad remains my main pillar on this challenging career path,” he smiled.

Along with knowledge and skills, LSMU graduates acquire another important component: the desire to continuously improve, learn, seek new challenges, and find new paths for professional growth.

In 2016–2021, M. Rimaitis also took a turn towards the scientific path. Having completed the LSMU doctoral programme, he defended his PhD thesis and joined the academic community of LSMU, teaching LSMU students, resident doctors, and other healthcare professionals.

“Working with intelligent and ambitious young people is one of the greatest professional challenges and joys. I am very happy to be able share my experience, knowledge, and skills. It is a fantastic push forward, giving me motivation to continue developing and the sense of completeness on the difficult professional path,” said the doctor, who is a lecturer at the Clinical Department of Anaesthesiology at the LSMU Faculty of Medicine.

No such thing as a small surgery

What is the daily routine of an anaesthesiologist?

“After the doctors’ meeting in the morning where we discuss the pending work with our supervisors and colleagues, we head to the operating rooms to meet our patients.

I always try to greet them with a smile and good mood, because I know how worried and scared they are. Then, having prepared thoroughly, we carry out all the procedures necessary not only to induce anaesthesia, but also to ensure the patient’s safety and vital signs and to maintain them throughout the operation.

It is a general misconception that the anaesthesiologist only administers a certain combination of drugs. We are members of a large multidisciplinary team working in the operating room, monitoring every subtle change in the patient’s vital signs, ready to take the necessary steps to ensure the proper functioning of the patient’s body systems, and to help preserve life during the most complex surgical interventions.

In most cases, the anaesthesiologist is the last person the patient sees before the surgery starts, and the very first person they see after it is over. This is because we are the patient’s guardians throughout their journey in the operating room,” the doctor said.

According to Dr. M. Rimaičius, there is no such thing as a “small” surgery or anaesthetics, as all interventions in the human body are associated with certain risk, and I have witnessed this many times. Special care is needed during any surgery, as unexpected fluctuations in the patient’s vital functions are common and the anaesthesiologist’s quick and professional reaction is important to deal with them.

M. Rimaičius’ clinical work largely takes place in the neurosurgery operating rooms. According to the doctor, this is an extremely interesting field that requires particular diligence and concentration not only of the surgical team, but also of the anaesthesiology team.

The anaesthesiologist is also a member of the liver transplant anaesthesiology team. Anaesthesia during liver transplantation is a particular challenge for an anaesthesiologist, as most patients are in an extremely serious condition before the surgery, and the surgery scope, duration, and risk of complications are significant.

“The job of an anaesthesiologist is anything but boring. It requires not only a very high level of professionalism, but also empathy, love, and compassion for the human being. Unfortunately, not everyone manages to balance between these two components. You need to not only help the patient, but also take care your own psycho-emotional well-being,” the doctor has noted.

Physically active leisure activities help the doctor to relax after a busy working day: he is a good swimmer and is currently improving his roller-skating skills. He likes to spend his quieter days reading books, and his biggest holiday passion is road trips with his family. Travelling to new places, he says, helps him to see his own and other people’s lives from a different angle.

When asked about the prospects for his profession, the doctor noted that the future of medicine is linked to technological advances, the integration of artificial intelligence, and improvements in human life preservation and health.

“At the same time, we need to realise that advances in technology, new tools, and drugs not only empower us, but also carry a huge responsibility to use this power in the best possible way, to the greatest possible benefit for people,” stressed anaesthesiologist-reanimatologist, Dr. M. Rimaitis.

Why Study at LSMU?

• Global recognition of the study programme Medicine: accredited according to the WFME standards.
• LSMU offers the unique selection of 8 study programmes taught using a unique integrated problem-based learning method, with studies taking place in cycles (modules).
• The study programme Medicine is renowned for its advanced teaching methods and has been accredited by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education for the maximum period.
• Knowledge and practical experience are shared by leading experts, practitioners, and researchers in various fields.
• LSMU helps develop strong teamwork skills.
• Hybrid classrooms, medical and veterinary simulation centres.
• The LSMU library is very student-friendly and open 24 hours a day.
• Many hours of practice at Kaunas Clinics (Kauno Klinikos), LSMU Pharmacy, the University’s small and large animal clinics, veterinary clinics, teaching laboratories, and advanced business companies.
• Additional internship opportunities are available starting with the 1^st year.
• Modern simulation-based training methods, which have been developed to a very high degree, are used to prepare safely for professional activities. Professional careers can be developed in any direction you want, be it research, practice or business.
• There are around 70 sub-specialisations to choose from after graduating in Medicine, and pharmacy graduates are not only pharmacists but also researchers and work in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.
• LSMU is one of the most international universities in Lithuania, with a multicultural learning environment and the best universities in Europe for internship and fellowship.
• Outstanding employment opportunities as the LSMU graduates are highly sought after on the labour market: over 80% of BSc and over 90% of MSc graduates are employed in their first year.