Cardiovascular Surgery

The Cardiac Surgery Teaching Unit  works with teams from General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Anaesthesia and Resuscitation. There are three accredited places available. Residents in this specialisation assist in the operating room and with preoperative assessments, where they provide surgical indications according to their level of training. In addition, they work in intensive care, postoperative care, and carry out patient monitoring on the hospital wards.

Cardiac surgery residents are incorporated into the team gradually according to the relevant stage of their training. Their work is based in state-of-the-art operating theatres, Intensive Care, hospital wards and rooms, and outpatient appointments. During this time, they become familiar with the different surgical and preparatory techniques for cardiac surgery, as well as preoperative and postoperative monitoring.

Rotations through different Departments is essential. Residents therefore spend time in Cardiology and Pacemakers, giving them the chance to learn about cardiac disorders and surgical indications. The rotation in Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, and active participation in lung transplants, enables them to broaden their knowledge of the most advanced surgical techniques in the specialisations.

The final year is spent on duty shifts and in Adult Cardiac Surgery, with three months in Paediatric Cardiology.

We are an active research group applying scientific methodology that allows residents to get closer to basic research or experimental surgery projects in the unit. We also offer the chance to obtain grants.

In terms of research, we undertake to help residents present a research project and to write their doctoral thesis.

Why specialise at Vall d’Hebron? 

• Because right from the start we encourage residents to get involved in writing scientific papers and publications for national and international congresses.
• Because we are committed to quality through the analysis of surgical outcomes, and we keep up to date with the specific features of the specialisation.
• Because we hold a weekly professional development, literature review and research training session, a session on surgery, a session on mortality, a medical-surgical session, and a session on medical-surgical advances given by a guest physician of national or international prestige in the field.
• Because we strive for quality through a system of monitored training objectives, which includes meetings between tutors, residents, consultants, heads of department and section, and the Training Department.
• Because we create value for residents and assess their internal and external rotations with contributions from the attending physicians, tutors, heads of section, heads of department and the Training Department.
• Because we support attendance at the annual Cardiac surgery course for residents, and we organise weekly clinical sessions and various courses on key areas such as basic resuscitation, the latest cardiac surgery advances, and treatment for arrhythmia and pacemakers.
• Because we work to attract financing for the European Cardiac Surgery course in Bergamo (Italy), which accredits surgeons to perform cardiac surgery throughout the European Union.