Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
About
A Day in the Life as a UVA Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Resident
Learn moreUVA has renowned, high volume cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery departments which translate into a significant volume and variety of cardiothoracic anesthesia experiences during residency. We perform 1000 on-pump cardiac surgical procedures annually including 25 VADs and 20-30 heart transplants, as well as 750 thoracic procedures including 30-50 lung transplants. In addition to cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, our surgeons and cardiologists collaborate in a very busy transcatheter aortic valve replacement program. This collaboration extends to procedures performed for minimally invasive mitral as well as tricuspid valve interventions.
UVA Recent Anesthesiology Graduate Dan Smith works on a patient in the OR .
Prior to your first cardiac anesthesia rotation, residents will spend one week doing a purely educational pre-cardiac rotation. This includes time spent in the OR with a senior resident to watch cardiac cases, as well as small group learning sessions and simulations dedicated to helping you become familiar with the specifics of cardiac anesthesia.
As a categorical resident you will do your first month of cardiac anesthesiology during your CA1 year. Since we do not have fellows, you will be the primary provider working directly under the supervision of a cardiac attending. You will perform all of the procedures including arterial and central venous access, PA catheter placement, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Although the attending will always be present for critical portions of the case, you will have significant opportunity to make independent clinical decisions during these complicated cases. You will usually do 1 or 2 cases per day, including scheduled CABG’s, open valve replacements, aneurysm repairs, interventional procedures like TAVR and Mitraclips, as well as more emergent cases such as aortic dissections and heart transplants. Staff are always available to help when needed, and are eager to answer your questions and teach.
A Day in the Life as a UVA Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Resident
Learn moreA Day in the Life as a UVA Thoracic Anesthesia Resident
Learn MoreAs a CA2 you will do another dedicated month of cardiac anesthesia as well as two weeks of thoracic anesthesia for cases such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and open wedge and lobe resections, esophagectomies, and lung transplantation. Finally, as a CA3 you will have an additional 6-16 weeks of cardiothoracic anesthesia depending on your interests. Echocardiography (TEE and TTE) consists of structured didactics during CA2 and 3 years, 2-6 weeks of dedicated TEE rotations, and weekly TEE reading sessions. Residents interested in obtaining the Basic TEE certification easily meet the case requirements and are strongly encouraged to pursue this certification process.
A Day in the Life as a UVA Thoracic Anesthesia Resident
Learn MoreCardiac Rotation Faculty
The cardiac anesthesia faculty is a diverse group with exceptional clinical and academic strengths in the areas of cardiac, pulmonary and vascular physiology and anesthesia.
Thoracic Rotation Faculty
Randal Blank heads the Thoracic Anesthesia division. Most of the thoracic team is active on both the cardiac anesthesia and thoracic anesthesia rotations.