The Division of Adult Multispecialty Anesthesia delivers outstanding evidence-based care, fosters innovation, and encourages individuals to pursue clinical and research interests.
We provide anesthesia care across a wide range of surgical specialties including ear, nose, and throat (ENT), plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, and vascular surgery. We also provide anesthesia services for several non-OR procedures including those in interventional radiology, brachytherapy, and gastroenterology.
Our wide-ranging research interests include both lab-based basic science research and clinical research. The diverse areas of interest to which our faculty have contributed include developing ERAS protocols for various services; innovative use of jet ventilation for solid organ ablations; and groundbreaking work on the use of convalescent plasma and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our faculty’s research projects have included investigating mechanisms of anesthetic action in animal models, understanding the pathophysiology of postoperative delirium, and conducting a multidisciplinary study of the antidepressant effects of psilocybin. Ongoing quality improvement efforts include reducing the environmental footprint associated with the delivery of anesthesia and patient optimization prior to elective surgery. Additionally, we help residents and medical students produce research to present at regional and national meetings and publish in a wide variety of journals.
Non-OR anesthesia (NORA) and Ambulatory Anesthesia
Non-OR anesthesia (NORA)
Non-OR anesthesia (NORA) cases make up approximately 20 percent of total anesthesia cases at UW Health, or more than 8,000 cases per year. These cases include cardiac, radiologic imaging, CT ablation, interventional radiologic, neuroendovascular, brachytherapy and gastroenterology procedures.
Overall, NORA volumes have increased approximately 10 percent annually for nearly 10 years and we anticipate this continuing in the future.
Ambulatory Anesthesia
Ambulatory anesthesia Ambulatory Anesthesia proudly provides comprehensive and compassionate care to an increasing number of patients in a variety of procedure and ambulatory surgery centers. We are able to effectively care for a wide spectrum of patients by adopting innovative approaches and the latest evidence-based anesthesia modalities. At East Madison Hospital and the Madison Surgery Center, for example, we employ a host of general, regional and Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) anesthesia techniques for the variety of general, ophthalmology, orthopedic, otolaryngology, plastics, and vascular surgeries. At Generations Fertility Center and the Digestive Health Center, we provide sedation services. We also provide coverage for UW Hospital Outpatient Surgery Center (OSC), where patients with more serious comorbidities are cared for on an outpatient basis.
Complementing our steadfast clinical mission, our division also offers a variety of educational opportunities. We train future professionals to advance the practice of anesthesia, education is integral to our division. We teach a variety of learners about our specialty and demonstrate how our work integrates with the world of medicine. Additionally, we train residents at most of UW Health’s clinical locations and expand our reach to alternative settings by providing educational opportunities in simulation for medical students, residents, and other learners.
Beginning in their CA-1 year, residents are required to spend a four-week rotation in OSC. There they are introduced to the challenges and nuances of ambulatory anesthesia. We also offer a senior ambulatory anesthesia elective for CA-3 residents who wish to operate in a more independent fashion.
Our division houses a unique ambulatory anesthesia and administrative medicine fellowship that offers insight into the business, financial and administrative aspects of an anesthesiology practice.
Division Highlight
Dr. George Arndt has dedicated his career to advancing the practice of anesthesiology in airway management. His many innovations, including the Arndt Endobronchial Blocker and the Arndt Wire-Guided Airway Exchange Catheter, have improved the safety of anesthesia. Dr. Arndt’s immense impact extends to education. He has trained residents and medical students for more than three decades. His Arndt Airway Course, held annually for the last 20 years, helps learners of all disciplines advance their practice of airway management.
