Dr. Andrew Hummel uses his comprehensive perioperative approach to handle high-stakes medical cases. He has a reputation as a board-certified leader in anesthesiology. Dr Hummel is recognised for successfully handling medical cases that most physicians find unapproachable.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Hummel’s practice is defined by perioperative care, managing patient health from pre-operative optimization to post-operative recovery.
- Dr. Hummel approaches impossible cases with a lateral approach, neuraxial techniques, and titrated spinal anesthesia.
- Dr. Hummel places importance on keeping patients psychologically comfortable, ensuring a trauma-free surgical experience.
You may view your surgical journey as a series of technical checkpoints. However, it is an extremely human experience for those on the operating table. Surgeons are visibly the main physicians in surgical teams. However, an anesthesiologist is the invisible architect of safety.
If you are researching your surgical team and wondering if your anesthesiologist is expert enough, your concern is completely valid. Anesthesiologists like Dr. Andrew Hummel are responsible for keeping you pain-free during the surgery and ensuring that you wake up after the procedure. The level of comfort you feel during the surgery, right after it, and in the recovery phase is dependent on how good your anesthesiologist is.
So, is Andrew Hummel a good anesthesiologist? The answer lies in his approach to the cases that are declared as impossible by other physicians. If you want to learn how Dr. Hummel approaches three impossible cases, then keep reading.
The Impossible Epidural
A woman was 38 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy. She was suffering from severe scoliosis and had already undergone a lumbar surgery. So, her anatomy was seen as unapproachable for traditional neuraxial anesthesia. Therefore, one available option was general anesthesia. But it increases risks for both the pregnant mother and the unborn baby.
Now, as per Dr. Hummel’s perioperative philosophy, anesthesia work should start long before the first incision is made. So, rather than accepting the anatomical barriers, Dr. Hummel utilized the lateral approach to place the epidural. He carefully planned how to do it successfully.
The case shows that Dr. Hummel does not simply settle for the easiest path, especially if there is a safer way available to maximize patients’ comfort. He prioritizes the safety and comfort of patients, even if the involved approach is a more difficult one.
Hemodynamic Precision
Age is a complex physiological factor in the operating room. Dr. Hummel once treated an 87-year-old man with moderate aortic stenosis and a pacemaker. The patient had suffered a hip fracture, and his family was told that he might not survive the stress of surgery.
Dr. Hummel collaborated with the cardiology and surgical teams to optimize the patient’s comorbidities first. He went for a carefully titrated spinal block instead of general anesthesia. This helped him maintain complete hemodynamic stability.
The patient was able to completely avoid time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was placed into rehab within just 48 hours, changing his patient status from “high-risk” to “successfully recovering.”
Induction Through Trust
Dr. Andrew Hummel once met a six-year-old girl scheduled for a tonsillectomy. She was going through hospital trauma. Her parents warned that during a prior induction, she had to be restrained by four nurses.
Dr. Hummel realized that the immediate priority was managing the patient’s fear rather than her vitals. He began by mock-treating the patient’s stuffed rabbit named Gerald. In the operating room, Gerald was put to sleep first. Next, it was the patient’s turn, and she held the rabbit’s ear without a single tear.
A Legacy of Authority and Education
The unapproachable or impossible cases that Dr. Hummel accepts are the foundation of his professional identity. In order to ensure transparency in care, Dr. Hummel maintains a presence on platforms like Healthgrades and Doximity. The details available on these platforms offer peace of mind to patients who are about to trust him with their lives.
Dr. Hummel’s commitment also extends into medical education. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and also an oral board examiner. He mentors the next generation of medical students.
Dr. Andrew Hummel also awards scholarships to talented medical students. Moreover, he implements opioid-sparing techniques like Iovera° cryoneurolysis. It can be said that Dr. Hummel wants to turn his clinical success into a legacy of leadership.
The New Standard of Care
Ultimately, the effectiveness of anesthesiologists can be understood from their high-stakes moments. Dr. Hummel’s expertise is evident from his successful board certifications and six-time recognition as a top doctor.
Dr. Andrew Hummel’s practice is a reminder that the best practitioners don’t just manage a room, but lives too. He wants to create the highest standard of care for all patients.
