What is cardiothoracic anesthesiology?
Cardiothoracic anesthesiologists care for patients with cardiac disease who require cardiothoracic surgery and other chest-related medical procedures. This includes:
- Administration of anesthesia medicine before, during and after surgery
- Management of cardiopulmonary equipment before, during and after surgery
- Monitoring patients' cardiopulmonary functions before, during and after surgery
- Hemodynamic monitor placement and interpretation
- Critical care, if needed
- Resuscitation of patients after surgery is complete
Your doctor may recommend cardiothoracic anesthesiology if you are scheduled for a medical procedures such as:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
- Open surgical valve repair and replacement
- Minimally invasive valve surgery
- Percutaneous valve replacement and repair
- Repair of aortic aneurysms and dissections
- Placement of ventricular assist devices
- Placement of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices
- Adult congenital heart procedures
- Electrophysiology
- High risk percutaneous coronary intervention
MaineHealth delivers high-quality, evidence-based, cardiothoracic anesthetic care in state-of-the-art facilities at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center. Our highly-skilled cardiothoracic anesthesiologists are all board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and are either board-certified or testamur-certified in perioperative trans-esophageal echocardiography. Team members train resident physicians who are studying cardiothoracic anesthesiology and are also involved in cardiothoracic anesthesiology research and peer-reviewed publications.
