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Question practice

Questions drawn from the realities of Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

Practise explaining the clinical decisions, patient conversations and career experiences that matter in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology—then handle follow-ups that ask for evidence behind your first answer.

1. 01

   Beyond the technical skills, what emotional or personal satisfaction do you anticipate gaining from providing anesthesia for life-saving cardiac and thoracic procedures?

2. 02

   During a routine lobectomy, the surgeon reports a significant air leak from the staple line at the end of the case. What is your role in assessing this, and what steps would you take in the OR and post-operatively?

3. 03

   You are covering the cardiac ICU overnight, and the critical care attending asks you to intubate a post-CABG patient with severe LV dysfunction. You have concerns about the patient's stability for the procedure at the bedside. How do you communicate your reservations and propose an alternative plan?

4. 04

   You are asked to provide anesthesia for an adult patient with severe end-stage heart failure who refuses mechanical ventilation post-operatively for quality of life reasons, despite surgery being his last chance. How do you approach this ethically complex situation?

5. 05

   Our department actively participates in multicenter trials related to perioperative care in cardiac surgery. What appeals to you about participating in large-scale collaborative research initiatives?

6. 06

   What specific opportunities or resources within our cardiothoracic anesthesiology department, perhaps mentioning a particular faculty member's research or a unique rotation, attract you most to our program?