Cardiothoracic Anesthesia

Residents of the Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Rotation in the University of Virginia Department of Anesthesiology actively care for patients with complex cardiac and pulmonary pathophysiology while patients undergo a wide variety of procedures and surgical operations.

Prior to the first cardiac anesthesia rotation, residents spend one week doing a purely educational pre-cardiac rotation. The rotation includes time spent in the OR with a senior resident to learn the flow and steps of cardiac surgery cases, as well as small group learning sessions and simulations dedicated to helping residents become familiar with the specifics of cardiothoracic anesthesia.

Categorical residents complete their first month of cardiac anesthesiology during the CA1 year. Under the guidance and support of a faculty member, residents perform a wide variety of procedures ranging from placing arterial lines, inserting central lines, floating PA catheters, managing lung isolation, performing regional techniques for pain management, and learning the core fundamentals of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Additional rotations in the CA2 and CA3 years allow residents to build upon the knowledge, skills, and involvement throughout the residency. Click the accordions in the About section below to learn more about the program, the wide variety of cases residents are involved in, and discover where UVA graduates place when they finish the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Residency.