One of the risks that can occur during general anesthesia or procedural sedation is the possibility of patient awareness. This is a condition in which the patient is awake during surgery or procedure and can recall events or surroundings. This event can occur in 1:100 open heart surgery, in painless patients in 1:1000, and in pain in 1:3000.

Anesthesiology is a specialized field of practical medicine dedicated to pain relief and overall patient care before, during and after surgery, for which doctors must be highly trained. Anesthesia is a major factor in the success of surgery, and the person who controls the anesthesia to be effective enough for the surgery without causing harm to the patient is a well-trained anesthesiologist.

The role of the anesthesiologist has evolved from that of a physician primarily concerned with providing optimal surgical conditions and minimizing pain immediately after surgery, to a perioperative physician who is responsibility for ensuring optimal management of surgical patients before, during, and after surgery