Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CATS)

CATS 816. Special Project1-16 Units

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Description: This course is to be arranged to fit individual needs to cover topics of current interest, to participate in research projects or to receive some advanced training. Student must complete the Special Project form, have it signed by your mentor and return to Student Affairs in order to receive credit.

Note: Method of Evaluation to be determined by faculty mentor based on the specific project.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CATS 906. Clinical Elective-Urban1-4 Units

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Prerequisite(s): Fourth-year standing.

Description: This elective is designed to offer the student an opportunity to obtain clinical experience in the private practice of a community surgeon in the Louisville Metropolitan Area. The student will participate in both office and hospital settings and learn both the clinical as well as the organizational aspects of surgical practice. The student must complete the Off-Campus Request Form and have it approved by the departmental course director.

Note: Method of Evaluation is observation of performance.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CATS 907. Clinical Elective, Off-Campus1-4 Units

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Prerequisite(s): Fourth-year standing.

Description: The purpose of this course is to offer a clinical experience in an approved program in Surgery, usually under the supervision of a full-time member of the faculty of a duly recognized educational or research institution. This experience will provide the student an opportunity to further develop clinical surgical knowledge and to assume responsibility for all aspects of patient care as a member of the surgical resident team. The student must complete the Off-Campus Request Form and have it approved by the departmental course director.

Note: Method of Evaluation is observation of performance.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CATS 911. Adult Thoracic Surgery4 Units

Prerequisite(s): Third-year standing.

Description: In this four-week elective students will rotate through the adult thoracic surgery service at Jewish Hospital/University of Louisville Hospital. Students will participate in morning rounds, preoperative planning, assist in operations, follow all patients on whom they were present for the operation and participate in post-operative and discharge planning. It is expected that the student will attend clinic at least once day a week. The student is expected to write daily notes, develop a daily plan, and present the patients to the attending physician. Students will be expected to observe/assist in a wide variety of procedures, in include but not limited to lung resection for benign & malignant disease, surgery for tracheal disease, surgery for benign & malignant disease of the esophagus, and lung transplantation. The student is expected to keep a daily log of the procedures and the learning points of the day. In addition, the student is expected to attend weekly fellow's teaching conferences and be responsible for one presentation during the rotation, the weekly department conference, and any additional conferences pertaining to the management of the patients which they are following, (i.e., tumor board). The student will not take call but will be required to round on one weekend during the rotation.

Note: Method of Evaluation is 1) the student will be required to keep a procedure log with daily activities as well as a journal of the learning points of the day; 2) the student will prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation during the rotation that will follow the American Board of Thoracic Surgery Curriculum; 3) attendance policy is strictly enforced; and 4) the student evaluation is based on their attendance, availability, quality of participation in cases and the aforementioned case presentation and weekly lectures.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CATS 912. Adult Cardiac Surgery4 Units

Prerequisite(s): Third-year standing.

Description: In this four-week elective the student will rotate through the adult cardiac surgery service at Jewish/UofL Hospital, assigned to a specific surgeon daily with every effort made for the student to follow a single surgeon and patients for a complete week. The student will participate in morning CVICU rounds, preoperative planning, assist in cardiovascular operations, follow patients on whom they were present for the operation, and participate in postoperative and discharge planning. It is expected that the student attend clinic at least one day a week. The student is expected to write daily notes, develop a daily plan, and present the patients to the attending physician. Students will be expected to observe/assist in a wide variety of procedures, to include but not limited to: coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repair and replacement, advanced aortic reconstruction, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, endovascular aortic repair, ventricular assist device, and cardiac transplantation. The student is expected to keep a daily log of the procedures and learning points of the day. In addition, the student is expected to attend the weekly fellow conference and be responsible for one presentation during the rotation as well as attend the weekly department conference. The student will not take call but will be required to round on one weekend during the rotation.

Note: Method of Evaluation is that 1) the student will be required to keep a procedure log with daily activities as well as a journal of the learning points of the day; 2) students will prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation during the rotation that will follow the American Board of Thoracic Surgery Curriculum; 3) the attendance policy is strictly enforced; and 4) the student evaluation is based on attendance, availability, quality of participation in cases and the aforementioned case presentation and weekly lectures.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CATS 913. Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit4 Units

Prerequisite(s): Third-year standing.

Description: In this four-week elective the student will rotate through the cardiovascular intensive care unit. The student will assist the mid-level health professionals and fellows in assessing patients in the CVICU. The student is expected to select 5 patients daily and will write daily notes, develop a daily plan, and present patient on multidisciplinary rounds to the intensivist and rounding team. Students will be expected to observe/assist in a wide variety of procedures, to include but not limited to: central line placement, arterial line placement, thoracentesis & thoracostomy tube placement, & bedside chest explorations and ECMO cannulation. The student is expected to attend weekly fellow conference and be responsible for one presentation during the rotation, weekly department conference, as well as the bimonthly intensivist meeting. The student will not take call but will be required to round on one weekend during the rotation.

Note: Method of Evaluation is 1) the student will be required to keep an active log with daily activities as well as participate in a minimum of 10 procedures; 2) prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation during the rotation that will follow the American Board of Thoracic Surgery Curriculum; 3) attendance policy is strictly enforced; and 4) the evaluation is based on attendance and availability, quality of participation in cases and the aforementioned case presentation, and weekly lectures.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes