In recent years, minimally invasive surgery has gradually become the mainstream development direction of cardiovascular surgery. The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine provides a valuable opportunity and environment for trained fellowship, residents to carry out advanced training in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The clinical training program is designed to help young cardiac surgeons learn and master the relevant techniques and perioperative management methods of minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

1. Learn and perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery (including minimally invasive valve replacement/repair, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting, minimally invasive aortic surgery) one-on-one with our surgeons.

2. As a member of the medical team, participate in ward rounds with our surgeons every day. During the ward round, new patients will be introduced, the diagnosis and treatment plan for hospitalized patients will be formulated. And you can involve in perioperative management.

3. Excellent research opportunities

4. Strong teaching and training programs, including monthly morbidity and mortality meetings, weekly teaching rounds, regular surgical presentations and teaching presentations.

5. Advanced surgical technique simulation training.

The goal of our plan is to enable the trainees to master the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of minimally invasive cardiac surgery through training. Including preoperative evaluation, surgical techniques, perioperative management, etc. The trainees who have completed the training should have the basic ability to carry out minimally invasive cardiac surgery and manage related patients.

The program provides 1 to 6 months of full-time training experience. In special cases, you can arrange other time training according to your needs and interests 

• Fellows: Qualified applicants for cardiovascular surgery must complete the general surgery residency program at an accredited institution.

• Residents: Qualified applicants must obtain the qualification of surgical clinical physician.

Key areas and subspecialties:

1. Valve disease of the heart

2. Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease

3. Aortic disease

4. Congenital heart disease

5. Cardiac tumors

6. Extracorporeal circulation

Skills:

1. Specialized cardiac techniques: valve replacement, valve repair, vascular anastomosis, etc.

2. Thoracoscopic techniques: fine dissection, suturing, etc.

Monday

Week 1: introduction and welcome, course overview and objectives, department introduction

Weekly: MDT meetings, complex case studies

Weekly: mentor one-on-one training:

-Topic:

1. Valve disease of the heart

2. Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease

3. Aortic disease

4. Congenital heart disease

5. Fundamentals of extracorporeal circulation

Tuesday

Weekly: outpatient observation, academic lectures, basic surgical skills training

Bi weekly: research training:

-Main themes:

1. Preoperative risk assessment

2. Pathophysiology

3. Selection of surgical methods

4. Intraoperative treatment

5. Identification and management of postoperative complications

Wednesday

Weekly: clinical rounds, surgical observations, case discussions, teaching rounds

Biweekly: simulated surgical training

Weekly: lectures:

-Topic:

1. Interpretation of cardiac imaging

2. Multidisciplinary management of cardiovascular diseases

Thursday

Weekly: surgical skills training:

1. Suture, knot tying, and hemostasis

2. Establishment of extracorporeal circulation and minimally invasive thoracotomy methods,

3. Valve replacement and vascular anastomosis

Biweekly: surgical practice

Friday

Weekly: Journal club, clinical ward round, clinical skills training, special task training,

Last week: summary and reflection, participant demonstrations or discussions on key points, feedback session

The training project team will conduct monthly theoretical assessments (written exams), operational assessments (skill simulation assessments), and clinical thinking assessments (interviews) for the trainees. The assessment results will be fed back to the students by the supervisor, and the subsequent training plan will be modified based on the students' abilities.

The program is free of charge.