The mission of the Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology is to deliver high-quality anesthetic care to patients and to provide an outstanding education to anesthesiology residents and cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows.

Our ACGME accredited adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship currently enrolls three fellows per year. The clinical practice, which is located entirely within the North Pavilion at University Hospital, employs a care team model which is supported by a committed group of nurse anesthetists dedicated to the care of patients with cardiovascular disease. At University Hospital in 2018, there were approximately 1400 adult cardiac cases and 800 thoracic cases performed. The division also provides care for patients undergoing structural heart procedures, lead extractions, and some vascular cases.

All of the anesthesiologists within this division are fellowship-trained and maintain diplomate status with the American Board of Anesthesiology and the National Board of Echocardiography in Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography. Anesthesiology faculty perform comprehensive TEEs for all open cardiac surgical procedures and limited TEE coverage for structural heart procedures. The relationship between anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, and cardiologists is very collegial, and a weekly multidisciplinary TAVR conference reflects this strong sense of collaboration. Attending anesthesiologists are responsible for the medical direction of the full spectrum of cardiac and thoracic procedures including the following:

CABG (both and on- and off-pump techniques)

Surgical and transcatheter valve replacements

Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repairs with left heart bypass

Ventricular assist device implantation

Heart and lung transplantation

Esophagectomy

VATS and Robotic Lung Surgery

Cannulation procedures for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Structural heart procedures (e.g. Mitraclips, paravalvular leak repairs)

Lead extractions in the electrophysiology lab

Transcatheter endovascular aortic procedures and lumbar drains

High risk non-cardiac surgical procedures

Teaching is at the core of our mission, and multiple members of our division have participated as instructors at the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesia Perioperative Ultrasound Course. We strive to advance our field, and our department is committed to supporting basic and clinical research.