Obstetric Anesthesia
The BIDMC obstetric anesthesia subspecialty rotation is a busy and intensive experience in peripartum management including a preponderance of high-risk patients. The residents are introduced in one-week and one-month blocks during their first year, during which time they will become proficient in the placement of epidurals and spinals, in conducting cesarean sections, and are introduced to neonatal resuscitation. There is daily didactic and informal instruction from attending staff and fellows. One week of the CA-2 month is spent in the neonatal ICU, a new addition to the curriculum.
Resident Perspective
Before your OB month begins, every CA-1 does a one-week intensive block in OB. This gives you a chance to become oriented to L&D before you start taking OB call (which you take throughout your three years). During your one-month block, each day you will generally do at least one c-section, up to five epidurals/spinals, and learn to manage the side effects of neuraxial anesthesia. There are usually two attendings and three residents that divide up the daily work for L&D. It offers a rare opportunity to work and learn with a small group of your colleagues.