Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman MD

The Different Types of Anesthesia

The holder of a PhD in pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist. Possessing more than 20 years of medical experience, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman was a staff anesthesiologist at the Mary Washington Hospital in Virginia where he provided anesthesia to patients undergoing surgery.

Anesthesia is the process of administering drugs to prevent pain during surgery. Different approaches are used depending on the medical procedure:

-Local anesthesia. This anesthesia is usually administered to numb the area where a surgery or other procedure will be conducted. It is used for minor procedures such as taking a skin biopsy and filling a dental cavity. It does not cause unconsciousness. The anesthesia can be delivered through injection or applied on the skin topically and left to penetrate the tissue.

-Regional anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is administered to the nerves serving the part of the body where surgery will be performed. The anesthesia, delivered by injection or by continual infusion through a catheter, numbs the nerves in that area of the body without triggering unconsciousness. Examples are spinal anesthetics which are injected in the area surrounding the spinal cord before lower back surgery, and epidural anesthetics delivered continuously via a catheter during childbirth or abdominal surgery.

-General anesthesia. This type of anesthesia is inhaled through a breathing tube or delivered intravenously. It is administered before surgery to render a patient completely unconscious. After surgery, the anesthesiologist stops the patient’s supply of the anesthetic, and he or she is taken to a recovery room for monitoring.

Allergic Reactions to Anesthetic Agents

A graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman is an MD with extensive experience as an anesthesiologist. Over the course of his career, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman has held positions such as staff anesthesiologist at Fredericksburg, Virginia’s Mary Washington Hospital and professor of anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina .

Different types of anesthesia can be used to assist patients in various ways, from numbing small parts of the body with a local anesthetic to general anesthesia, which renders the patient completely unconscious during long medical procedures. Prior to using anesthesia, medical professionals will need to determine whether patients may experience anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction to anesthetic agents.

Fortunately, anesthetic allergies are quite uncommon, with a frequency rate between one in 5,000 to 25,000 patients. That said, anaphylaxis can be a complicated condition, particularly considering doctors may be unaware of the patients’ symptoms if they are no longer conscious. Furthermore, it can be difficult to determine the exact source of the reaction during live surgery due to the diversity of medication and materials being used.

While anaphylaxis may sound scary, anesthesiologists are trained in its recognition and timely response, including during live surgery scenarios, and considerable harm coming to a patient as a result of anesthetic allergies is unlikely. Of course, patients are strongly encouraged to share their history of allergies with doctors prior to procedures, particularly any medications or antibiotics that have triggered allergic reactions.

The Medical Definition of Chronic Pain

Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, PhD, received his medical degree (MD) from the Duke University School of Medicine. He also holds a doctorate in pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An experienced anesthesiologist, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman is a member of several professional organizations, including the South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists.

The South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (SCSA) provides both patients and medical professionals with a depth of information and resources, including support and insight into pain management. Various strategies for pain management can be developed in response to chronic pain, a common term but one with a specific meaning in the medical field. While the cause and nature of the pain can vary widely, chronic pain develops as pain signals begin firing throughout the nervous system and do not abate for weeks on end, if not months, years, or until proper treatment is prescribed.

As stated, chronic pain can take many forms, caused by conditions from cancer to a common ear infection. Arthritis is another common example of a physical condition that may involve nearly constant pain and discomfort. Arthritis, like various types of chronic pain, is more common with age, though injuries can result in chronic pain at any age.

In some cases, treatment for chronic pain can be minor, such as taking OTC medications for recurring headaches. In other cases, pain medicine, medical treatments, or therapy are used to address a patient’s issues and elevate their quality of life.

The SCA Endowment

A published anesthesiologist, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman holds a doctor of medicine (MD) from the Duke University School of Medicine. In addition to his MD, he holds a doctor of philosophy in pathology. Over the course of his extensive medical career, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman has engaged with a number of professional organizations, including the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.

The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) is an international physicians group and charitable organization advocating for optimized patient care and enhanced access to physician education and research. With the latter goals in mind, the organization created the SCA Endowment.

Originally established as the SCA Foundation, the SCA Endowment funds SCA members in various capacities as an academic and research aid, particularly regarding work emphasizing patient care innovations. The endowment operates with the overriding goals of enhancing patient safety and optimizing knowledge and preparedness among the next generation of cardiothoracic and vascular physicians. SCA Endowment operations become increasing critical as the global population continues to age, placing greater pressure on cardiovascular surgeons and anesthesiologists.

More information about the organization, including ways to support its educational and research efforts, is available at www.scahq.org.

Tips for Preparing a Child for Anesthesia

Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, a graduate of the medical school at Duke University, has nearly three decades of experience in the field of anesthesiology. Over the course of his career as an MD, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman has worked extensively and published papers in areas of both pediatric and adult anesthesia.

Families and medical professionals can take a number of steps to ensure that a child feels safe and secure prior to a procedure involving anesthesia. To begin, a child’s stomach should be empty to minimize the likelihood of vomiting as a reaction to anesthesia. Families must consult with physicians in order to determine how long before a procedure a child should stop eating, though eight hours is a general rule for solid foods. Similar restrictions may be placed on any daily medications taken by the child.

To help a child feel comfortable at the hospital or location of the procedure, families should dress the child in loose-fitting clothing and bring along an item of comfort, such as a stuffed animal or favorite toy. If a child is demonstrating anxiety regarding anesthesia or the procedure itself, families are advised to remain as calm and supportive as possible, though medical teams can also provide mild sedatives to address excessive anxiety.

Some medical facilities allow a single support person, typically a parent, to enter the operating room alongside a child as anesthesia is provided, though this is not always the case, particularly for emergency surgeries. Families should remember, however, that a support team is present in an operating room solely to assist the child. It is more helpful to have the child undergo anesthesia alone if a parent or guardian cannot maintain a calm, supportive posture throughout.

An Overview of Standards at Level 1 Trauma Centers

Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, is an anesthesiologist with nearly 30 years of professional experience. Dr. Dorman prepared for his medical career by acquiring a PhD in pathology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, before earning his MD at Duke University’s medical school. Over the course of his career, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman has supported a variety of patients, including Level 1 trauma victims.

Trauma centers are located throughout the United States to address major traumatic injuries that can occur from motor vehicle crashes, gunfire, and other occurrences. The capabilities of trauma centers can vary from one facility to the next, resulting in designations that run from Level 1 through Level 5, with Level 1 trauma centers offering the most comprehensive medical services.

To achieve Level 1 status, trauma centers must be staffed 24/7, not only by general surgeons, but by medical professionals capable of rendering critical specialty care elements like anesthesiology and radiology. Additional elements of a Level 1 trauma center include extensive quality assessment processes and programs for substance-abuse screening and intervention.

Standards for Level 1 are not necessarily limited to medical services rendered. For example, the nation’s leading trauma centers are expected to function as a source of public education and awareness for surrounding communities, as well as a provider of continuing-education opportunities for trauma team members.

Membership Process at the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

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Anesthesiologist Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman received his MD from the Duke University School of Medicine, where he was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman taught at The Medical University of South Carolina and served as a staff anesthesiologist at Mary Washington Hospital.

Founded in 1902, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society honors physicians who are dedicated to their profession and the art of healing. When beginning the process of electing new members, the society obtains a list of the top quartile of students of a class approximately 16 months away from graduation. From this list, each chapter can elect up to one-sixth of students projected to graduate. The selected students should be picked for their academic standing as well as their proven leadership abilities, professionalism, and strong ethical values. They must also demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to their community and likelihood for success in their medical careers.

In addition to selecting medical students, each chapter is encouraged to elect two to six faculty members and three to seven residents or fellows. These selections are held to the same high standards.

The MUSC Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship

Anesthesiologist Bruce Hugh Dorman, MD, has received awards and funding, including a grant from the American Heart Association, for his extensive research into adult and pediatric cardiovascular anesthesiology. In addition, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman is a respected academic who has held several faculty positions within the Department of Anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Founded and chaired by pioneering anesthesiologist John Marion Brown in 1949, MUSC offers residency and fellowship programs through its Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine. Since 2007, the medical school has accepted fellows into its cardiothoracic anesthesiology program.

Led by board-certified transesophageal echocardiography physicians, the fellowship program boasts a 100-percent pass rate for the National Board of Echocardiography advanced exam. Fellows participate in weekly conferences and departmental rounds as well as standardized online modules and clinical work at the Hollings Cancer Center.

American Board of Anesthesiology – Changes to the Examination Process

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Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman earned his MD from the Duke University School of Medicine. A widely published anesthesiologist, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman most recently practiced at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology.

The American Board of Anesthesiology is dedicated to advancing the standards of anesthesiology and helping anesthesiologists engage in ongoing professional development. It certifies anesthesiology professionals through several different examinations, including both traditional and new staged exams.

Candidates for certification who began their education in anesthesiology after June 2012 can take staged exams, or a series of three tests designed for different stages in a physician’s training. The Basic exam is offered to residents during their CA-2 year. After completing a residency in anesthesiology, candidates may take the Advanced examination. These two exams are equivalent to Part 1 of the old system.

The Applied examination, formerly Part 2 of the old system, is the final step for would-be diplomates. The Applied exam is still undergoing changes and will include components of the Objective Structures Clinical Examination (OSCE), beginning in March 2018. Candidates will be required to pass both the standard oral exam and the OSCE at that time.

How to Participate in the South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists

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A graduate of the MD program at Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman formerly served as a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Since 1991, Dr. Bruce Hugh Dorman has held membership in the South Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (SCSA).

A member organization comprised of licensed anesthesiology physicians across the state, the SCSA encourages members to participate in a variety of ways. Many members participate in the society by running for leadership positions in the organization or becoming a member of the SCSA executive committee. Members can also become delegates to the House of Delegates of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Outside of leadership positions, SCSA members can act as liaisons between the anesthesiology profession and legislators at all levels of government. While lobbyists and staff members are valuable assets, a direct call from an MD has a lasting impact on legislators and can contribute toward meaningful change. Other membership opportunities at the SCSA include the South Carolina Anesthesia Business Managers Group and district directorships with the ASA.