You need to have a strong work ethic and you must be prepared to
commit to the specialty. As well as possessing excellent knowledge
of the underlying science for preoperative diagnosis, you need
above-average technical abilities for the challenging intraoperative
techniques that are involved. Being able to function effectively as part of
a team is crucial since cardiothoracic surgery involves working with medical
and nursing staff to achieve the best possible result. Stamina and
competence are essential, as is the ability to cope in a crisis.
In comparison with work in other subspecialties, a relatively large
proportion of the week is spent in surgery. On average you might
spend five or six half-days in the operating room and half a day
consulting. For a hospital-based specialist the day would usually
commence with an 8.00am ICU ward round, followed by morning and
afternoon sessions in theatre (8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.00pm to
5.00pm). The last hour or two of the working day might be spent
preparing for cases for the following day and catching up on
paperwork and dictation. The call roster is light but you do need to
be available to re-operate on your own elective cases (usually the
night or day after surgery).
Surgeons are being required to operate on hearts that are in
increasingly poor condition. A major challenge that faces this
specialty is the reduction of neurological complications and
mortality rates following surgery. Technical advances continue to be
made, although it remains to be seen whether government funding will
enable the possibilities of robotic surgery to be explored and
implemented.
It is recommended that you should talk to local surgeons and spend
six months as a registrar in the specialty. To succeed in this field
you need to be hard-working, bright and competent.
At present there is strong demand for cardiothoracic surgeons which
should continue for at least the short to medium term. Although
opportunities in paediatric cardiothoracic surgery are limited in
New Zealand, there is plenty of demand internationally if you show
potential.
There is a prolonged training period for this specialty so
registrars may find it difficult to take time out from training,
although the College accommodates individual needs on a case-by-case
basis. Several cardiothoracic specialists have successfully taken
parental leave in recent years. One female surgeon reported that she
manages to combine work with having a family. She suggests that you
do require support from home but that nothing is impossible. Work as
a specialist offers opportunities for travel and involves attending
conferences internationally once or twice each year.
One contributor commented that the specialty has had a significant
impact on her family life, but that this is not necessarily negative
if you enjoy your job and derive satisfaction from it. Another
contributor said that the lifestyle is no different than for any
other surgical specialty and that he accommodates the needs of his
family around his work commitments.
You have to be available for consultation and surgery and the work
often arrives at inconvenient times. The hours of work can be long
and it can be very stressful when patients fare badly. In future,
the development of percutaneous techniques may reduce demand for the
services of cardiothoracic surgeons.
You have to be available for consultation and surgery and the
work often arrives at inconvenient times. The hours of work can be
long and it can be very stressful when patients fare badly. In
future, the development of percutaneous techniques may reduce demand
for the services of cardiothoracic surgeons.
