Cardiothoracic Surgery (2015)

Key Topics

Key topics are those that all trainees will cover by CCT and will be able to manage independently, including complications. These are also referred to as essential topics.

1. Critical Care and Postoperative Management
   
   
   • The management of critically ill cardiothoracic surgical patients in the pre and post operative periods
     
     
2. Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Myocardial Protection and Circulatory Support
   
   
   • The management of a patient undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass
     
     
   • The management of myocardial protection during cardiac surgery
     
     
   • The management of a patient requiring circulatory support
     
     
3. Ischaemic Heart Disease
   
   
   • The assessment and management of patients with coronary heart disease, including elective and emergency presentations. To include competence in both primary and secondary procedures, and where appropriate to include off-pump and on-pump strategies and arterial revascularisation
     
     
   • The preliminary assessment and initial management of patients with complications of myocardial infarction, including mitral regurgitation, ventricular aneurysm and septal defects. To include operative management in appropriate situations. Full competence in operative management of complex cases to be developed in the post CCT period
     
     
4. Heart Valve Disease
   
   
   • The assessment and management of patients with valvular heart disease; including both isolated and combined aortic and mitral valve disease.
     
     
   • The assessment and management of patients with combined coronary and valvular heart disease, including operative management.
     
     
   • Full competence in operative management of complex cases including mitral valve repair and secondary procedures to be developed in the post CCT period.
     
     
5. Aortovascular Disease
   
   
   • The preliminary assessment and initial management of patients with acute dissection of the ascending aorta. To include operative management in appropriate situations.
     
     
   • Full competence in operative management of complex cases to be developed in the post CCT period
     
     
6. Cardiothoracic Trauma
   
   
   • The assessment and management of patients with minor and major cardiothoracic trauma. To include operative management in appropriate situations.
     
     
   • Full competence in the operative management of complex cases including great vessel injury to be developed in the post CCT period
     
     
7. General Management of a Patient Undergoing Thoracic Surgery
   
   
   • Patient selection and determination of suitability for major thoracic surgery and the pre and postoperative management of a thoracic surgical patient.
     
     
   • The assessment and management of a patient by bronchoscopy including foreign body retrieval
     
     
   • The assessment and management of a patient by mediastinal exploration
     
     
   • Competence in performing appropriate thoracic incisions
     
     
8. Neoplasms of the Lung
   
   
   • The assessment and management of lung cancer, including the scientific basis of staging systems and techniques used in the determination of stage and fitness for surgery
     
     
   • An understanding of the role of surgical treatment in the multidisciplinary management of lung cancer and other intrathoracic malignant diseases, including an appreciation of the principles of other treatment modalities and their outcomes
     
     
9. Disorders of the Pleura
   
   
   • The assessment and management of patients with pleural disease; including pneumothorax and empyema, and including both VATS and open strategies
     
     
10. Disorders of the Chest Wall
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients with chest wall abnormalities, infections and tumours
      
      
11. Disorders of the Diaphragm
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients disorders of the diaphragm, including trauma to the diaphragm
      
      
12. Emphysema and Bullae
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients with emphysematous and bullous lung disease; including surgical management if appropriate and utilising both VATS and open strategies.
      
      
    • Full competence in operative management of complex cases, including lung reduction surgery, to be developed in the post CCT period
      
      
13. Disorders of the Pericardium
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients with disorders of the pericardium and pericardial cavity; including surgical management if appropriate and utilising both VATS and open strategies
      
      
14. Disorders of the Mediastinum
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients with mediastinal tumours and masses; including surgical management if appropriate and utilising both VATS and open strategies
      
      
15. Disorders of the Airway
    
    
    • The assessment and management of patients with disorders of the major airways. Including operative management in suitable cases.
      
      
    • Full competence in operative management of complex cases, including tracheal resection, to be developed in the post CCT period