Pediatric Cardiac Division

Pediatric Cardiac division members

The Division of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology provides anesthesia for approximately 200 congenital cases annually.

URMC is the sole center performing congenital heart surgery in western New York. This ensures a steady referral of patients with all types of congenital heart disease. Approximately 200 pediatric cardiac surgical cases are performed annually.

Pediatric cases are covered by two anesthesiologists: Dr. Michael Eaton, one of the adult cardiac anesthesiologists, and Dr. Dawn Sweeney, a member of the pediatric anesthesia group. The Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Service is also available to provide anesthesia for infants and children with complex congenital heart defects who are undergoing diagnostic procedures or noncardiac surgery.

The Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Service is responsible for the education of residents and fellows in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology. Fellows who rotate in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology may be training in pediatric or cardiac anesthesia fellowships. Currently, the service provides training for Cardiac Anesthesia Fellows training at URMC and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellows training at the Buffalo Children’s Hospital.

Research efforts are ongoing, and often multidisciplinary. The Congenital Heart Surgery Research Interest Group (CHeSRIG) meets regularly to discuss proposed research protocols. Members of the group include pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, pediatric intensivists, neonatologists, and pediatric perfusionists. Research interests include coagulation and blood conservation.