Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · May 2020
European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Fellowship Curriculum: First Edition.
This special article summarizes the design and certification process of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (EACTA) Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (CTVA) Fellowship Program. The CTVA fellowship training includes a two-year curriculum at an EACTA-accredited educational facility. Before fellows are accepted into the program, they must meet a number of requirements, including evidence of a valid license to practice medicine, a specialist degree examination in anesthesiology, and appropriate language skills as required in the host centers. ⋯ The basic training period focuses on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery and related procedures. The advanced training period is intended to deepen and to extend the clinical and nontechnical skills that fellows have acquired during the basic training. The goal of the EACTA fellowship is to produce highly trained and competent perioperative physicians who are able to care for patients undergoing cardiac, thoracic, and vascular anesthesia.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · May 2020
Ideal Sequence of Didactic Lectures and Simulation in Teaching Transesophageal Echocardiography Among Anesthesiologists.
Performing a basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) requires 3-dimensional knowledge of cardiac anatomy, psychomotor skills, and image interpretation. Commonly, lectures followed by simulation sequence is used for teaching TEE. Differences may occur among learners when this sequencing of instructional components is altered. The authors investigated the ideal sequence of lectures and simulation in teaching basic perioperative TEE. ⋯ This study showed that, for retention (at 1 month) of both knowledge and skills, it is preferable to teach practical skills followed by theoretical knowledge to anesthesiologists who are complete novices to TEE.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · May 2020
Observational StudyAre Serum Potassium and Magnesium Levels Associated with Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery?
Potassium and magnesium are frequently administered after cardiac surgery to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The evidence for this practice is unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between serum potassium and magnesium levels and AF after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Maintaining a serum potassium concentration ≥4.5 mmol/L after cardiac surgery may reduce the incidence of postoperative AF. Magnesium supplementation was associated with an increased risk of postoperative AF. Prospective randomized trials are required to clarify these associations.