Neuroanesthesia Fellowship

Educational Mission

The University of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology aims to provide outstanding advanced clinical and didactic instruction and research opportunities in all aspects of neurosurgical anesthesia and neurophysiologic monitoring.

Program Overview

General Information

Faculty

The Neuroanesthesiology Division of the University of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology provides anesthetics for more than 1200 adult and pediatric procedures annually. The surgical caseload is extensive and widely varied including intracranial vascular procedures (cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations), resection of tumors (intracerebral, posterior fossa, spinal), and the treatment of functional problems (seizures, movement disorders). In addition, active services perform a full range of spine surgery (spinal fusion, tethered cord repair, rhizotomy), craniofacial, and neuroradiological procedures. Specialized neurophysiologic monitoring, performed and taught by the neuroanesthesia team, is provided for many of the procedures. The monitoring instrumentation is state-of-the-art, providing the ability to perform somatosensory evoked potentials, cortical sensory mapping, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, continuous and triggered EMG, CMAP, and nerve action potentials.

Program Curriculum

Clinical Fellowship (twelve months)

1. A four month rotation in the neurosurgical Operating Room providing anesthesia for a variety of complex neurosurgical procedures including cerebral aneurysm clipping, supratentorial and posterior fossa craniotomy for tumor removal, epilepsy surgery, surgery for occlusive cerebrovascular disease, and pediatric neurosurgical procedures.
   
   
2. A three month rotation in intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring. Working closely with staff neuroanesthesiologists, the fellow will gain knowledge of the fundamental principles of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring including somatosensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, EMG, EEG, and nerve action potentials (NAPs). Fellows will develop the skills to program and set up the neurophysiologic computer, place patient stimulating and recording electrodes, run and interpret the diagnostic tests, and trouble-shoot and diagnose causes of abnormal intraoperative neurophysiologic waveforms.
   
   
3. A one month rotation in the Department of Neurology with emphasis on electromyography (EMG) and electro-encephalography (EEG). Fellows will attend EMG and EEG clinics and participate in the performance and interpretation of diagnostic EMG and EEG studies. Didactic sessions on the fundamental principles of electromyography are provided.
   
   
4. A one month elective rotation at another academic medical center to gain in-depth experience in motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring.
   
   
5. A one month rotation in the Department of Neurosurgery focusing on the preoperative and postoperative management of patients in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. Emphasis is placed on the management of patients with elevated intracranial pressure, intracranial vasospasm, spinal cord trauma, and severe head injury.
   
   
6. A one month rotation in neuroradiology with emphasis on neuroangiography, endovascular embolization of cerebral aneurysms and AVMs, and interpretation of head and spine CT and MRI films.
   
   
7. All clinical fellows are expected to complete at least one clinical research project over the course of the year. Project guidance is provided by the neuroanesthesia staff, and a one month period is provided for elective reading and completion of the research project.

Research Fellowship (12 - 24 months)

The research fellowship track offers an opportunity to obtain basic research training in preparation for a career in academic neuroanesthesiology. The combination of clinical and research time can be tailored to the needs of the individual applicant.

The Department of Anesthesiology has several NIH funded projects in the fields of neurophysiology and neuropharmacology currently under the direction of Robert Pearce M.D., PhD, Department Chair.

Additional Information

For more information contact:
Deborah Rusy, M.D.
Director of Neuroanesthesiology
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology
B6/319 University Hospital and Clinics
600 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53792-3272
(608)263-8100