Cardiac

Clinical Care

The Department of Anesthesiology has a long tradition of excellence in the clinical care of cardiac surgical patients dating back to the development of the clinical application of pulmonary artery catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography. Today, Yale-New Haven Hospital is a busy pediatric and adult cardiac surgery center, delivering cardiac anesthesiology services for over 1,250 patient annually.  With 15 faculty members trained in transesophageal echocardiogapy (TEE), we are well equipped to provide intraoperative echocrdiographc examination for all cardiac surgical procedures.  Weekly echo conferences are designed to review interesting and challenging cases. There are active collaborations in the area of TEE associated research between the Department of Anesthesiology and Cardiology.

Education on the Cardiac Anesthesia Service is designed to produce clinicians capable of providing state-of-the-art anesthesia for patients with cardiac, thoracic and vascular diseases. We stress the pathophysiology and perioperative implications of these diseases along with the principles of cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial preservation, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation along with transesophageal echocardiography and implantable devices.

Significant clinical emphasis is placed on the management of patients with complex thoracic-abdominal aneurysms.  The expansion of clinical programs in the area of cardiac assist device as well as cardiac transplantation have significantly expanded the scope and breadth of service provided by the cardiac anesthesia division.  We are delighted that with the  recruitment of a new Chief of Cardiac Surgery we will be instituting a clinical program focusing on minimally invasive (port-access) valve procedures as well as robotic surgical procedures.

We have expanded the role f the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist to include management of patients in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.  This 18 bed unit is staffed exclusively by members of the Department of Anesthesiology.

Future activities will include the management of patients undergoing electrophysiology procedures and ablations.  A program for lung transplantation is also planned for the future.

Core Research Areas Include

  • Evaluation of the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass on the inflammatory response
  • Invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular monitoring
  • Impact of CPB on hepatic/renal function
  • Development of TEE-quality-assurance mechanisms and education materials
  • Tissue engineering/regeneration medicine
  • Identifying outcome indicators in patients receiving cardiac assist devices