Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar, New Delhi, is one of India’s leading multi-specialty tertiary care hospitals, established in 1996 as part of the renowned Apollo Hospitals Group. While Apollo Hospitals, founded in 1983, spearheaded the wave of private healthcare in India, its first hospital was in Chennai—not Sarita Vihar—and Apollo Sarita Vihar soon became instrumental as a regional medical hub, providing advanced care for patients from Delhi, NCR, and neighboring states. The hospital covers more than 15 acres, houses over 1,000 beds, and is celebrated for pioneering procedures like pediatric and adult liver transplants, as well as its expertise in cardiology, oncology, and robotic surgeries. Among its distinguished alumnae is Dr. Vaishali wadhwa, who recently completed her DNB in Anesthesiology at Apollo Hospital Sarita Vihar. Driven by curiosity and a passion for hands-on patient care, Dr. Vaishali chose Apollo for its equipment-rich, practical training environment, diverse exposure to major surgeries and specialized cases, and nurturing atmosphere that values resident growth. Her journey reflects Apollo’s ethos: combining clinical rigor with supportive mentorship, preparing specialists who excel in the demanding world of modern healthcare.
DISCLAIMER : This information is for Guiding NEETPG/DNB /MD Aspirants only. This is not a review of overall patient care in these hospitals which may not be affected by what is being discussed here. The information provided here cannot be used for any other purpose or to asses the patient care in these hospitals. This is just a review of a postgraduate course running in the mentioned hospital and is meant for guiding medical aspirants only. Also the information presented here may change from time to time. Please confirm this information yourself before joining.
Q: Which institute are you pursuing or have passed MD/DNB from?
A: Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi.
Q: Which branch are you pursuing or have passed MD/DNB from?
A: Anaesthesiology.
Q: What was your rank in NEET PG/DNB and your colleagues’ ranks, if any?
A: 19392.
Q: How many consultants are there in your department in the concerned specialty?
A: 25 consultants, 2 junior consultants.
Q: What are your usual working hours?
A: For DNB, 8 am to 5 pm usually. There are 24-hour duties, depending on the number of residents, between 3 to 6 a month.
Q: How many emergency duties do you have per week and what does the work involve?
A: It can be 1–2 a week, typically 3–6 a month, depending on the number of residents. For the 1st and 2nd year of primary DNB, 24-hour duty will be 2nd on call. From 8 am to 5 pm is your usual OT, then you are handed over the PAC emergency phone by the morning PAC person. You have to attend calls for ward work, see patients, code blue, difficult intubation calls, shift ICU patients for CT/MRI, perform difficult cannulation, ICU under sedation, and pain calls. You are usually managing many things yourself, but in case of emergencies or any difficulty, consultants and your 3rd year 1st on call are there to help. In 3rd year, you will be on 24-hour 1st on call duties, where you have to stay in the OT for 24 hours. If you are lucky, OT will finish by 11 pm or midnight, but usually, it runs late. The next day may start as early as 6 am depending on the list. Secondary DNBs usually get 1st on call duties earlier, definitely in their 2nd year and, if residents are less, after the first 6 months.
Q: Are you allowed to touch the patient? Please describe the procedures done.
A: Absolutely. I have done all of this myself. Intubation is routine, including normal PVC ETT, double lumen tube, awake fibreoptic. Have performed central line, sheath, arterial line, PA cath (during cardiac posting). The department mostly prefers ultrasound-guided lines in general anesthesia. Central neuraxial blocks—spinal, epidural, combined spinal epidural, thoracic epidural, caudal block. Peripheral nerve blocks—femoral, abductor canal, tap block, interscalene, brachial plexus. Regional practice was less when I started, but now everyone does more regional, and if interested, you will get more chances. The numbers may not be comparable to government setups because they likely do surgeries under blocks only; here regional is mostly for analgesia, not surgical anesthesia. Everything else is probably above a peripheral government setup in terms of learning and many tier 1 hospitals too. You will get to do everything 100% by yourself, under supervision—no room for error. By final year, you are often left alone for many tasks. The number depends on how dedicated you are from the start.
Q: How are the academics? Is there a case presentation schedule?
A: Classes are held 3 days a week, typically 30–45 minutes; Saturdays, one hour. Tuesday: department class at 7:15–7:30 am, where a DNB presents a topic on general anesthesia, moderated by a consultant. All DNBs must attend (sometimes also on Friday). Friday: Liver transplant class presented by the liver fellow, moderated by a consultant. Saturday: Boardroom class 7:30–8:30, new topics, journal clubs attended by all consultants and residents. Tuesday and Friday classes are very exam-oriented; all topics covered in detail. Saturday is reserved for new topics, guest lectures from other departments, such as burns management by a plastic surgeon, ECMO class by a consultant from the US, HIPEC by an oncosurgeon, cardiac or neuroanesthesia department presentations, biostatistics, airway ultrasound by guest faculty, ECHO POCUS series, consultant topic presentations. When DNBs present, it is moderated by one consultant, others attend. Tuesday classes cover typical exam topics—drugs, systems, clinical cases, etc. Compulsory attendance for all.
Q: What is the pass rate? Have your seniors passed?
A: Primary DNBs: 2022 batch—3 out of 3 passed; 2021 batch—all passed theory, 4 out of 5 passed practical; 2020 batch—2 out of 3 passed theory, later all passed practical. Secondary DNB—never heard of anyone failing. Passing in anesthesia is usually good, though sometimes luck matters. You get a month’s leave before theory and up to a week before practicals for studying.
Q: How satisfied are you with your choice?
A: Super satisfied!
Q: Are there other departments at your institution that are good for MD/DNB?
A: Radiology, respiratory medicine, and blood transfusion medicine seem okay. Surgery is not too bad. Ortho and ob/gyn are not great in my opinion. Medicine—most cases seen by superspecialty departments, so don’t keep as 1st choice. Pediatrics is okay.
Q: What are the stipend and accommodation details?
A: First year: ₹64,500; second year: around ₹70,000; third year: ₹76,000. No hostels by the institute. There’s a PG girl’s hostel nearby. Most live in flats in Jasola or Sarita Vihar. Apartments start at ₹13,000–15,000, higher in posh areas.
Q: Any other info you would like to give?
A: The department is very nice and helpful. Consultants are all there to teach and guide. Colleagues—just luck. The variety of cases seen here as an undergraduate can’t be matched in any government hospital in India. Wide exposure: gen surgery, ob/gyn, ortho, urology, ENT, ophthal, robotic, lap, pediatrics, a wide variety of oncosurgery cases (commando, head and neck, thorax, HIPEC). Unique experiences: liver transplant, kidney transplant, cardiac and neuro postings of one month each, surgical ICU rotations every year. Duration may vary. Liver transplant ICU for two months.
Q: Why did you choose this hospital?
A: Anaesthesia is equipment-driven and everything is available here to learn. This branch isn’t theoretical; hands-on exposure helps understanding and passing exams. Residency covers all possible scenarios encountered in exams. Delhi is a prime location with conferences to attend. Apollo feels like family, not just a job. If you want to work in corporate setups, this place helps.
Q: What is your current designation and a brief description about yourself?
A: Finished DNB a week ago. Did UG from a private college. Got interested in anesthesia during the COVID internship, never regretted the choice. Anaesthesia has something for everyone—if you want thrill, transplant anaesthesia; for talking to patients, pain medicine; for challenge, pediatric anesthesia; critical care is another option; and if you wish to end your studies after 10 years, general anesthesia is enough for independent practice. Find what suits you best.
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