In addition, the fellow attends in the SICU in one week blocks each month. The Vanderbilt-Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital offers experience to the second year fellow in continuity of care for Trauma patients. Clinically, the fellow acts as a surgical consultant for any surgical problems or questions that develop at Stallworth. The fellow also has a Trauma follow-up clinic at Stallworth on Wednesdays. The large Trauma and ICU databases allow the opportunity to participate in retrospective reviews of a variety of topics.
Opportunities also exist to participate in prospective studies.
Examples of prospective studies which have been carried out or are being carried out include energy expenditure and work associated with different modes of ventilatory support, validity of various weaning parameters, gastric tonometry, effect of high PEEP versus high FIO2 for ARDS, and the clinical utility of volumetric indices. Opportunities exist for basic research, particularly in collaboration with other departments. The Division of Trauma also participates in multi-institutional investigations in cooperation with other centers.