Mark Stafford-Smith, MD

Anesthesiologist

Dr. Mark Stafford-Smith is an Anesthesiologist in Durham, NC with special training and skill in safely delivering acute and chronic pain relief through numbing and sedation. As an Anesthesiologist, Mark Stafford-Smith, MD performs general anesthesia and regional anesthetics. Anesthesiology is the field of medicine that controls pain during invasive procedures. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Anesthesiologists include sports injuries, musculoskeletal pain, labor, and surgery. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Anesthesiologists include pre-procedure evaluations, anesthesia delivery, patient monitoring, and recovery assistance.

An anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an operation or an obstetric or diagnostic procedure. The anesthesiologist assesses the risk of the patient undergoing surgery and optimizes the patient's condition prior to, during and after surgery. In addition to these management responsibilities, the anesthesiologist provides medical management and consultation in pain management and critical care medicine. Anesthesiologists diagnose and treat acute, long-standing and cancer pain problems; diagnose and treat patients with critical illnesses or severe injuries; direct resuscitation in the care of patients with cardiac or respiratory emergencies, including the need for artificial ventilation; and supervise post-anesthesia recovery.