KU
has one of the busiest and most comprehensive cardiology and cardiothoracic
surgery practices in the Kansas City metro area. This anesthesia resident training
experience provides a greater number and variety of cases for teaching. Five
anesthesia staff members with specialty training and/or interest in cardiovascular
anesthesia provide supervision for all CV and thoracic cases. New operating
rooms with the latest monitoring and anesthesia equipment have been provided
and are utilized on a daily basis.
Adult cardiac cases cover the gamut of cardiac surgical care, including coronary
artery bypass grafting, both on and off bypass, and transmyocardial laser revascularization.
Valvular heart disease and congestive heart failure are also surgically treated
here. Major aortic and other vascular operations are performed, providing the
resident the opportunity to utilize all types of invasive monitoring and learning
cardiopulmonary physiology and pharmacology firsthand. The knowledge gained in
this rotation can be used in many other areas of anesthetic practice.

