Cardiac Anesthesia

Open-heart surgery requires “general anesthesia”. General anesthesia entails a patient being completely asleep and unable to feel anything during surgery. An anesthesiologist will be by your side the entire time, carefully monitoring you to keep you safe and comfortable from the beginning of your surgery until the end.

A blood transfusion is sometimes necessary during cardiac surgery; though, we do our best to avoid transfusions when possible. Your anesthesiologist will only administer blood if it is medically necessary and in your best interest. Current blood supplies are very safe. If you have concerns or personal/religious objections to receiving blood products, please discuss these with your surgeon and anesthesiologist prior to your operation.

Your care will be provided by a highly-skilled and compassionate team of professionals, each with an important role in your treatment and recovery:

• Surgeon: A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon will perform your operation.
• Anesthesiologist: A physician specializing in anesthesiology (and specifically trained in cardiac anesthesia) will manage your anesthesia and monitor you closely during your procedure.
• Residents: Doctors in specialty training may assist your surgical or anesthesia teams under direct supervision.
• Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs): These experienced clinicians assist during surgery and continue your care throughout your hospital stay, working closely with your surgeon.
• Surgical Nurses and Technicians: Skilled nurses and technicians assist in the operating room to ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Perfusionists: These specialists operate the heart-lung (cardiopulmonary bypass) machine, which temporarily takes over your heart and lung function during surgery.
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Team: After surgery, you will be cared for by a dedicated team of ICU nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and other specialists who will closely monitor your recovery.

After your surgery, you will wake up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where our team can keep a close eye on you during your recovery. How soon you awaken depends on several factors including the length of surgery, medications you received, and how your heart and lungs are functioning following the operation.

In some instances, you may still have a breathing tube in place for a short time after surgery to help your body rest and recover. While the breathing tube is in, we will make sure you are comfortable and relaxed with medication. The ICU will take your breathing tube out as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Your safety is our #1 priority. During surgery, your anesthesiologist and surgical team use special monitors and equipment to keep a close watch on every detail of how your body is doing. Some of the tools we use include:

• Arterial Line: This is a small catheter, usually placed in your arm or wrist, that measures your blood pressure continuously. The arterial line is typically placed before you are fully asleep; though, we use “numbing” and “relaxing” medication to make you comfortable during placement.
• Central Venous Line: This is a larger catheter that goes into a vein in your neck. The central venous line helps your anesthesiologist monitor pressures in your heart and allows for the administration of certain medications. This catheter is placed after you are asleep; thus, you won’t feel it.
• Pulmonary Artery Catheter: This is a long catheter that is sometimes used during surgery to help measure how your heart is working.
• Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE): This is an ultrasound of your heart done from inside your esophagus (which sits just behind your heart). The TEE gives your anesthesiologist detailed, real-time images of your heart during surgery, and allows for close monitoring and quick responses to any change in your condition. This is also placed after you are asleep.