We extend a warm welcome to our anesthesia colleagues who are interested in a career in Cardiac Anesthesia.
We believe that our fellowship program has much to offer.
This is 1 fellowship a year offered which provides fellows with hands-on clinical exposure to cardiac cases in the operating room, cardiac catheterisation suite, electrophysiology suite and CSICU.
To become expert in:
• Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management within the speciality of cardiac anesthesia.
• Preoperative assessment of cardiac and thoracic patients.
• Principles of extracorporeal circulation/support and basic management of these modalities.
• Management of critically ill patients.
• Advanced management of cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation.
• The evaluation of respiratory function and to develop independent management skills of both invasive and non-invasive approaches to mechanical ventilation.
• In technical skills including placement of invasive monitoring lines, spinal drains etc.
• Advanced Transesophageal Echocardiography skills,
• The fundamentals of conducting basic clinical research.
• Teaching residents, medical students, paramedics and nursing staff.
• Independent and excellent clinician.
• To undertake one research project within the specialty
• To present their work at a national meeting.
• To present at Grand Rounds.
• To organise Cardiac/TEE rounds
Procedural Training.
• thoracic aortic reconstruction
• valve repair and replacement
• revascularisation procedures
• ECMO,
• electrophysiological studies and therapy including pulmonary vein isolation and ablations
• TAVIs (aortic valve replacement),
• cardiac stents
• Percutaneous closures of atrial and ventricular septal defects.
Echocardiography training.
This includes 8 weeks of intraoperative TEE training. Cases will include our not only cardiac work but also increasingly complex non cardiac cases including liver transplantation and other major surgical procedures. Our fellows are expected to meet the requirements and undertake the perioperative certification by the US National Board of Echocardiography Perioperative Transesophageal Examination (PTEeXAM).
Cardiac Surgery ICU.
• In the CSICU, the fellow functions as a leader of the patient care team, comprised of the attending anesthesiologist, fellows, residents and nurses. The fellow is expected to lead rounds and actively participate in the daily care.
• The fellow is expected to acquire advanced skills in the placement of invasive monitors, eg. arterial lines, central venous lines, pulmonary artery catheters, spinal drains, and in advanced airway management, including use of the fiberoptic bronchoscopy and various methods of one lung ventilation.
• Here, the fellow will gain exposure to other procedures such as thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, chest tube placement, IABP placement, and cardioversions.
Clinical and research opportunities are also available in ECMO technology, transthoracic echocardiography, blood bank and perfusion.
The curriculum also provides time for attendance at:
• Cardiac anesthesia Journal Club,
• TEE rounds,
• Thoracic journal club,
• Thoracic rounds,
• Anesthesia grand rounds,
• Critical incident/M &M rounds.
The fellows are also encouraged to attend additional anesthesiology-related meetings. Financial support is available if presenting original work.
• 3 days in cardiac anesthesia,
• 1 day in general clinical anesthesia in independent practice (may be in cardiac anesthesia)
• 1 academic day per week in order to prepare lectures or write manuscripts. Research will be planned and undertaken during this time.
• This schedule will change when in different rotations.
The fellow will meet with Dr. Lennox and Dr. Rieley every 3-4 months and the subspecialty program directors Dr. Mullane and Dr. McEachern at least once a month to review the progress being made during his or her fellowship.
A written summative evaluation is provided to the fellows and reviewed with the program directors at the end of the fellowship year.