The goal of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia (ACTA) Fellowship training program is to develop consultants with expertise in providing anesthesia care for patients undergoing cardiac surgery with and without extra-corporeal circulation as well as thoracic surgery, including operations on the lungs, esophagus and thoracic aorta. The fellow will become proficient in the care of patients undergoing non-operative diagnostic and interventional cardiac, thoracic and electrophysiological procedures. Graduates of the fellowship program will be well-equipped to succeed in either academic or private-practice environments.
Specific skills to be developed include the conduct of preoperative patient evaluation and interpretation of cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnostic test data, hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring, and advanced-level perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE); management of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), pharmacological and mechanical hemodynamic support and perioperative pain management. Successful completion of the Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Exam and fulfillment of the National Board of Echocardiography Board Certification requirements are expected of all fellowship graduates.