Pediatric & Congenital Heart Surgery

ELEC522 / PSRG 602

Department
Surgery

Clinical or Non-Clinical Course
Clinical

Physician Assessed Patient Facing
Yes

Prerequisites
Completion of Surgery Clerkship

Other
Completion of Pediatrics Clerkship

Goal
This elective will introduce the embryology, anatomy, and pathophysiology of congenital heart disease and the strategies and techniques of surgical treatment. The patients will range from newborn neonates and infants to older children and young adults with congenital heart defects. The student will participate in multidisciplinary AM and PM rounds in the PICU, attend weekly conferences, and participate actively in the operating room scrubbing on surgical cases. Didactic teaching sessions will augment the teaching on rounds and in the operating room. Preoperative evaluation and postoperative intensive care management will be part of the clinical experience. Outpatients (pre and postoperative) will be seen in the weekly clinics including the fetal clinic for the mothers/parents with a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Time will be allotted for reading and independent study. Reading materials and educational videos will be supplied.

Objectives
At the end of this course, the student will have and/or be able to:

  1. Knowledge of normal cardiovascular anatomy and physiology
  2. Understand the abnormal anatomy and pathophysiology of congenital heart defects
  3. Understand the medical and surgical management of congenital heart defects
  4. Understand the diagnosis and management of complex PICU postoperative problems
  5. Improved clinical judgement and evaluation of clinical studies
  6. Improved understanding of cardiovascular medications and their use
  7. Improved technical/surgical skills and operating room techniques
  8. Improved history taking and physical exam as related to congenital heart disease

Method of Assessment

  • Standard Clinical 2wk Elective Evaluation - Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
  • Standard Clinical 4wk Elective Evaluation - Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail

Additional Methods
A written evaluation of the student’s performance and met objectives on the rotation will be submitted by the course director at the completion of the rotation.

Course Director
Mark D. Plunkett, M.D.

Course Coordinator
Jennifer Young
jakyoung@uic.edu
309-655-6454

Location
SFMC

Setting
Outpatient
Inpatient

Night Call
No

Laboratory
No

Weekends
Yes
Please Specify
AM Rounds

House Staff
Yes

Number of Learners per Block
2

Duration
2 or 4 weeks

Who is this elective available to
Both M3s and M4s

Blocks Available
All except winter break.