[poppy07]

Hi all,
I was reviewing some CVs on the gaswork website, and it seems profoundly common how many people choose "never" for desiring cardiac/thoracic/neuro anesthesia cases. Why is that? Are these a real pain in the butt?

Thanks

[stanman1968]

Let us see, no extra money sicker patients tighter supervision, ofen performed in acedemic centers where the only speedy thing is the the line to clock out.

[poppy07]

so for the cardiothoracic cases... what kind of surgeries are involved? Of course, I can imagine CABGs, open heart surgeries... What else? It seems like my mom (sure, she would also be a good person to ask) deals with open hearts all the time at her facility.

Also, I've cared for quite a few neuro pts in our ICU... what all is involved in the neuro anesthesia cases?

Thanks!

[Qwiigley]

I personally don't mind doing neuro cases, but like the post before, they are usually really long cases. Many are prone, and that can be trouble for a tons of reasons, (think pressure points, airway etc.) not to mention your back pain after having to turn a paralyzed, 300 lb guy for lumbar lami because the lift team is "just too busy" to come help.
Neuro can be back, neck or brain surgeries. Some are interesting the first 3-4 times, then pretty dang boring. The neuro surgeon I work with the most (we have 5) plays the worst music on his iPod and won't let me play mine! (some morbid opera sh*t). Not even upbeat opera!
We only do AAAs and cardiovascular type cardiac surgeries in our location. Our Los Angeles location does the open hearts. I did a clinical rotation there when I was in school and once the patient goes on by-pass, the purfusionists do all of the work. You dont even chart!!! VERY BORING. I hated that rotation. 6 hrs of sitting there in a freezing room with nothing to do. Because of high risk for infection, no reading material, jackets, etc.