A comprehensive didactic program has been developed to assure adequate knowledge and cognitive skills pertaining to cardiothoracic anesthesia. The program fosters knowledge of the development, physiology, pathophysiology, anesthetic implications and perioperative management of a wide array of cardiac, vascular, renal, neurological and pulmonary disease processes. Knowledge of surgical procedure indications, complications and supportive adjuncts, including cardiopulmonary bypass, is necessary. Health care systems, resource utilization, quality assurance, and resource methodology training are included.
In addition, didactic training includes aspects of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic procedures, including perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The didactic program includes:
- Weekly cardiothoracic anesthesia conference
- Weekly perioperative TEE conferences
- Departmental and divisional Morbidity and Mortality Conference
- Journal Club presentations
- Perfusion lecture series and simulation sessions
- Critical care lecture series
- Clinical research didactic program
