Anaesthesia for Cardiac Surgery

Module Details:

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is the largest single site heart and chest hospital in the UK, serving a local population of 2.8 million but also receiving specialist referrals from all over the UK. We undertake procedures across 9 operating theatres and 5 catheter laboratories, and also manage patients within a large 32 bedded critical care area. Surgical procedures undertaken range from more routine cardiac surgical operations including CABG and valve surgeries to complex aortovascular and ACHD surgery. We additionally anaesthetise patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures including TAVI, other structural procedures including for ACHD and electrophysiological procedures. Trainees will be supported to gain experience in the elective management of patients with coronary artery and valvular heart disease presenting for on and off pump cardiac surgery, and patients requiring major aortic surgery. Additionally, trainees will be able to learn more about the management of patients with impaired ventricular function and ACHD during the peri-operative period along with the management of coagulopathy and use of point of care testing. Within critical care, trainees will gain experience of the management of patients following cardiac surgery including identification and management of post cardiac surgical complications, and there are opportunities to learn TOE and TTE, and support to sit BSE accreditation examination in TOE. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so we are well placed to provide trainees with all of the opportunities they need for completion of a Stage 3 SIA. Many of the skills described are transferable to other clinical settings, particularly the ability to assess and manage patients with significant cardiorespiratory disease in the non-cardiac surgical and intensive care setting. We are a supportive department and are keen to support the learning and development of our trainees. We have an ever-evolving educational program involving monthly half-day teaching sessions delivered by expert clinicians with trainee involvement and additional morning meetings. We are also have a very active program of quality improvement and service development, so are able to provide opportunities for meaningful projects, along with the forum to present at bimonthly audit meetings and support to present at national meetings. If you are interested in a stage 3 placement at LHCH we would be happy to discuss this further with you.

As we are a cardiothoracic centre, trainees attending to complete a special interest area in anaesthesia for cardiac surgery would also gain training and experience in the management of patients for thoracic surgery. See also SIA in Anaesthesia for Thoracic Surgery.