UCSD is highly regarded and nationally ranked in the field of Cardiology and Cardiothoracic surgery. The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology forms an integral part of that elite team, with a long history of excellence in clinical anesthesia, academics and research. Our mission is to create a positive and collaborative environment that fosters excellence in patient care, education, clinical and basic research and professional growth. We provide care for a spectrum of interventional and surgical procedures in the operating room, electrophysiology lab and cardiac cath lab. The flagship Suplizio Cardiovascular Center has 4 cardiac ORs (of which one is a hybrid room), 4 cardiac cath labs, and 2 EP procedure suites.
UCSD's program continues to be the world leader in the surgical treatment of pulmonary hypertension caused by clots in the pulmonary circulation by means of a pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). Our anesthesiologists are leading experts in the management of this procedure, and continue to be at the forefront of innovation and research. We provide care for minimally invasive (and robotic) cardiac surgery, complex adult congenital heart disease, the full spectrum of endovascular and structural heart procedures and thoracic aortic procedures. We are the center of excellence in the region for advanced surgical therapies for heart failure, which includes placement of mechanical assist devices and thoracic organ transplantation.
Our busy service covers more than 1500 procedures and 1200 echocardiographic exams a year. Our division consists of eight experienced faculty members that carry positions within the leadership of the department and serve as national experts on the committees of various professional organizations. We host the UCSD Perioperative Echocardiography Course annually, and a quarterly Echocardiography Visiting Preceptorship. World renowned and NIH funded faculty add research and academic depth to our clinical prowess.