Doc T

at the hospital where I am currently a trauma attending we have an ER residency as well as a surgical residency. I have taken residents from both specialties through ER thoractomies. The ER attendings have not, to my knowledge, ever performed an ER thoracotomy at my present institution. I am not certain if any have actual "privileges" to do so as its never become an issue.... trauma attendings take in house call as well as senior surgical residents and at least one of us responds to every high acuity trauma.

The hospital of my training had a separate trauma area where no ER attending ever ventured except to ask for a consult.

edited to add that I don't really see a reason for anyone but a surgeon to perform an ED thoracotomy as no one else can finish what is only begun with opening the chest. The times the ED residents have performed them the surgical residents have been scrubbed in the OR and were unavailable.

doc t