Cardiothoracic Critical Care

(4 Credits)

The student will actively participate in the assessment and treatment of the patients in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit. This will include both preoperative and postoperative patients, ventilator management, management of inotropic and vasopressor infusions, management of patients in cardiogenic shock with assist devices including intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The student will develop an appropriate knowledge base as to indicated procedures, population and outcome data for those procedures, the risks and benefits of operative interventions and alternatives. The students will be in direct contact and have one-on-one interaction with the attending physicians. There will be a series of didactic lectures during the rotation.