Shands currently has twenty-three modern, fully equipped operating rooms. Residents learn anesthesiology skills applicable to all types of patients in the operating rooms, adult and pediatric intensive care units, chronic pain management clinic, obstetric suite, perioperative pain management service, and many other related areas. Residents on this rotation perform as many as 10 blocks in a single day including such blocks as thoracic, lumbar, and cervical epidurals, lumbar plexus blocks, all types of brachial plexus blocks, femoral, sciatic, and popliteal blocks, and many others. Resident rotations at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located directly across the street from Shands Hospital, are an integral part of the general teaching program. The patients tend to be older, and often have chronic, as well as acute, multi-organ disease.
Case selection is varied and challenging.
Most surgical subspecialties are represented, including general surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, cardiothoracic, urology, vascular, plastic and reconstructive, and neurosurgery. Residents gain additional expertise in regional anesthetic techniques because of the nature of the surgical procedures. Specific rotations are provided for the general operating room, cardiothoracic anesthesia, and pain management. Because of the nature of hospital practice and procedures, this rotation is particularly amenable to resident participation in clinical research projects. Florida Surgical Center is a freestanding facility with four operating rooms located a few blocks from the University of Florida.