Anesthesia and Thoracic Surgery

See cardiac surgery patients, observe thoracic operative procedures and become acquainted with procedures ranging from intubation to bronchoscopies and thoracentesis.

In our anesthesia and thoracic surgery rotations, which take place during your first year, you will interact with older cardiac patients who have considerable comorbidities. You will also encounter cases that have been transferred from other hospitals because of their challenging nature.

Anesthesia Rotation

Supervised by an attending anesthesiologist, you will intubate patients and become familiar with all aspects of airway management.

You will see primarily cardiac surgery patients, allowing you to insert Swan Ganz catheters and interpret pulmonary arterial and wedge tracings.

You will also learn to interpret intraoperative cardiac echocardiography.

Thoracic Surgery Rotation

During this rotation, you will insert chest tubes, perform bronchoscopies and thoracentesis, all with the guidance of the attending thoraciac surgeon.

You will also have the opportunity to observe thoracic operative procedures.

Clinical Sites

You will spend two weeks at each site:

Caseload

  • 40 operative cases during the anesthesia rotation
  • 40 or more cases during the thoracic surgery rotation

Length of Rotation

  • Anesthesia rotation: 2 weeks at Erie County Medical Center
  • Thoracic surgery rotation: 2 weeks at Buffalo General Medical Center