Introduction

　　The Department of Anesthesiology at Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital was officially established in February 1988, initially as an anesthesia group under the Department of Surgery. During its early years, the department operated with minimal equipment, including only one Kimura anesthesia ventilator from Japan and a domestic anesthesia machine, which allowed for basic surgical anesthesia. In 1990, it was upgraded to a secondary clinical discipline, expanding its scope to include clinical anesthesia, critical care, and pain management. By April 1994, the department became an independent unit.

　　With the hospital’s accreditation as a tertiary Grade A hospital in 1996, the department standardized its operations, implementing comprehensive safety management protocols. The number of operating rooms expanded from 9 in 2002 to 18 and eventually to 30 by 2016. By 2022, the department was performing nearly 80,000 anesthesia procedures annually, covering a wide range of services including clinical anesthesia, anesthesia therapy and pain management, outpatient anesthesia care, and day surgery ward management.

　　As part of the hospital’s “One Hospital, Three Campuses”construction plan, the department continues to follow the five visions for anesthesiology development proposed by Professor Yu Buwei from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. These goals aim to position anesthesiology as a leading discipline in comfort-focused medical care, a key specialty ensuring medical safety, a hub for improving hospital efficiency, a center for interdisciplinary coordination, and a well-recognized and respected specialty by society. The department strives to establish a fully functional and comprehensive anesthesiology platform.

　　Specialty Features

　　As a foundational platform discipline supporting the hospital’s growth, the Department of Anesthesiology has achieved significant development over the past 30 years. Supported by the Shenzhen “Three Renowned Programs”, the department introduced the leading anesthesiology team from Ruijin Hospital under Professor Yu Buwei. This collaboration has fostered the development of the department’s distinctive focus on precision anesthesia and comfort-focused medical care.

　　The department excels in perioperative management for elderly patients, intraoperative awake procedures in neurosurgery functional areas, and acute and chronic pain management, maintaining a leading position in Shenzhen. It has implemented 17 city-leading clinical technologies, including artificial intelligence-assisted anesthesia and anesthesia-based treatment for refractory insomnia. These advancements position the department as a leader in innovation and excellence within the field of anesthesiology.