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A Survey Comparing Cardiac Operating Room Setup and Anesthetic Management Among Academic US Adult Cardiothoracic
1Department of Anesthesia, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, UCSD Medical Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, La Jolla, CA.
Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
|August 6, 2026
Summary
This survey of US academic cardiothoracic anesthesiology programs reveals common practices for cardiac surgery setup and management. Findings guide quality improvement and research into optimal cardiac anesthesia strategies.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac surgery requires specialized anesthetic management.
- Practices can vary significantly between institutions.
- Understanding current trends is crucial for quality improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate current practice patterns in cardiac operating room setup.
- To assess intraoperative management strategies in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology.
- To identify nationwide trends in academic programs.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey study design.
- Survey distributed to 76 US academic adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship programs.
- 51 programs (67%) responded, providing data on practice patterns.
Main Results:
- Norepinephrine is the most common inotrope/vasopressor for CABG; epinephrine for ventricular dysfunction.
- Nitroglycerin/nicardipine are common vasodilators for CABG.
- Bivalirudin preferred over heparin alternatives; regional anesthesia used in 40%; antifibrinolytics split; inhaled nitric oxide common; propofol preferred sedative.
Conclusions:
- Nationwide survey data reflects contemporary practices in US academic cardiothoracic anesthesiology.
- Data enables self-assessment for quality improvement.
- Further investigation into optimal cardiac anesthesia strategies is warranted.
