Surgical Subspecialty

Catalog description

(Only for students enrolled at the Illinois campus)This elective rotation is available to students who have completed the General Surgery rotation. The surgical subspecialty rotations provide students the opportunity to concentrate on learning the work-up, diagnosis, and medical management of patients in a variety of surgical subspecialties, such as cardiothoracic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, and surgical intensive care unit. Students are assigned to work directly with surgeons and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team. They have the opportunity to “scrub in” to assist in surgical cases, and develop proficiency in the surgical work-up, intra-operative intervention, and post-operative management of patients. They also follow patients in the critical care setting and on the floors. Students are required to attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures, and conferences while on the service. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. In CT surgery, students will have the opportunity to observe and scrub in to assist in cardio-thoracic surgical cases. Students will develop proficiency in the surgical workup, intra-operative intervention, and post-operative management of cardio-thoracic patients. Students will follow patients in the critical care setting and on the floors. While in the critical care setting, students will become familiar with the placement, maintenance, monitoring, and removal of central venous lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, chest tubes, and arterial lines. Students will understand fluid and electrolyte management and will become familiar with the management of ventilator patients and the interpretation of arterial blood gas measurements. Students…