Medical Intensive Care Unit/Coronary Care Unit - VAMC

This is a sixteen-bed, combined MICU/CCU. The elective emphasizes evaluation and management of acute medical illness including myocardial infarction, severe heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmia, respiratory, renal and hepatic failure, GI bleeding, acid-base and fluid-electrolyte disturbances. Students become familiar with procedures and devices used on the unit including cardioversion, temporary and permanent cardiac pacemakers, right heart and arterial catheterization, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, invasive and non-invasive electrophysiologic study, mechanical ventilators and oxygen therapy. Students take call every third night with a medical resident and intern. Faculty includes pulmonary and cardiology staff.