This rotation is designed to teach residents the fundamental principles of cardiothoracic anesthesia and subsequently to build on this foundation to develop an understanding of more advanced issues in the field. The emphasis of the rotation is for residents to understand cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology and the manner in which these are affected by anesthesia and surgery.
 
Throughout the continuum of education in cardiothoracic anesthesia, residents gain experience in invasive hemodynamic monitoring, including systemic and pulmonary artery catheterization, cardiac output measurement, and the interpretation of the data derived from these monitoring techniques. Residents also gain experience in the use of transesophageal echocardiography.
 
Within the field of cardiac anesthesia, residents will care for patients having coronary artery bypass surgery, both with and without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass; valve replacement and repair surgery; thoracic aortic surgery; heart transplantation; and the implantation of various ventricular assist devices. The mechanical circulatory assist program at Temple includes 4 different types of ventricular assist devices.
 
Within the field of thoracic anesthesia residents will care for patients having various thoracic surgery procedures by both open and thoracoscopic techniques. In addition to routine thoracic surgical procedures residents will care for patients scheduled for lung transplantation and lung volume reduction surgery. Residents will gain facility with various methods used to achieve lung isolation and provide one-lung ventilation, including the placement of endobronchial tubes and various bronchial blockers.