Assessment of Stress in Anesthesiologists Using Heart Rate Variability during Anesthetic Induction: An Observational Study

Abstract

Operative procedures vary widely and full concentration is needed for long periods of time. Anesthesiologists, including trainees and instructors, are therefore becoming increasingly stressed and exhausted. Stress is a physical and psychological response to environmental demands. Burnout of anesthesiologists is not rare [1-3]. Maintenance of anesthesiologists’ mental health has become a major concern that has been frequently reported and discussed throughout Japan [1-11].