Postgraduate education

Experienced residents in anaesthesiology rotate from the Anaesthesiology Institute of the University Hospital Zurich for a 6 month period to learn and further improve techniques of regional anaesthesia and how to manage an acute pain service. We offer 4 places per year and are proud to say, that this rotation is one of the most asked among the residents at the University Hospital Zürich. We do not have other rotation possibilities for other clinics, also if we are often asked.

In this 6 month period residents are full members of our service and are introduced in all regional anaesthesia techniques performed in our clinic.

For general anaesthesia in our clinic total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) using the target controlled infusion (TCI) technique is used as standard. The understanding of this technique and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the used agents is one of our main teaching topics.

Daily clinical teaching in the operating theatre is the rule in our division. We also have a 'late afternoon sessions'. At this time we discuss all patients of the next day. This team discussion offers a further possibility for theoretical teaching. Thereafter the pain service patients and the special cases of the day are discussed in plenum. The special patients of the intensive care are also presented and discussed in the team.

Residents are also on duty during the night and during the week-end. But there is always the back up of a senior member of the team.

Our aim is that all residents return to the University Hospital Zürich with a profound and solid knowledge of anatomy, regional anaesthesia techniques, pharmacology of local anaesthetics and target controlled infusion (TCI) technique with hypnotics and analgesics. The resident is educated to perform these techniques by himself (after a rigorous introduction and supervision time with regular controls of their knowledge) and to assume responsibility about the workflow in the own operating theatre. Our residents are educated to organise their work themselves, to take responsibility and to delegate and supervise work.

Structured Education:

Apart from the weekly ‘anaesthetist-breakfast-discussion’ we offer a weekly program of ‘Postgraduate / Continuing Education Lectures in Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine’ presented by our (senior) consultants and the Head himself. The topics are covering all fields of interest, linked to our daily practice. This guarantees that the staff members remain up to date not only in regional anaesthesia, but also in all fields of general anaesthesia. Special topics are lectured by Swiss or international experts. Three times a year a lecture of common interest is set up with our orthopaedic colleagues. All lectures are also open to all anaesthetists outside our clinic.

The ‘ Postgraduate / Continuing Education Lectures in Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine ’usually take place on Wednesday, from 17:00 – 17:45