Specialized Fields and Strengths

The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center performs approximately 1,400 cardiac and aortic surgeries, 2,000 pulmonary and esophageal surgeries, and 300 percutaneous heart valve procedures each year. In addition, around 100 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantations and heart and lung transplantations are performed annually, demonstrating the team’s expertise and reliability even in the most complex procedures.

• Cardiac Anesthesia

  Anesthesiologists who have completed advanced training in cardiac anesthesia and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provide anesthesia for over 1,400 cardiac surgeries each year. Their clinical scope includes coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, aortic surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and LVAD implantation. The team was a pioneer in introducing patient blood management (PBM) practices in Korea, establishing optimized transfusion strategies, and has incorporated ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) principles into cardiac anesthesia to accelerate postoperative recovery.

• Thoracic Anesthesia

  The team provides anesthesia and perioperative management for the full spectrum of pulmonary and esophageal surgeries in both adult and pediatric patients. Their expertise extends to minimally invasive thoracic procedures such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS), as well as anesthesia for tracheal and bronchial surgeries and interventional bronchoscopy. Various pain management techniques, including paravertebral block, are also employed to promote faster postoperative recovery.

• Anesthesia for Cardiac Interventions

  The team provides anesthesia and perioperative management for a wide range of cardiac interventions, including structural heart procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), and paravalvular leak occlusion, as well as cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures and complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

  Asan Medical Center was the first institution in Korea to introduce both TAVR and TEER. Building on extensive procedural experience and a highly skilled multidisciplinary collaboration system, we maximize the safety and effectiveness of our procedures. Tailored anesthesia strategies, ranging from monitored anesthesia care to general anesthesia, are employed according to the patient’s condition and procedural characteristics to provide an optimal environment for intervention.

Research and Policy Activities

The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center conducts research focused on topics directly linked to improving patient outcomes and addressing practical challenges in clinical care. The team has explored key areas such as perioperative management in cardiothoracic surgery, patient blood management (PBM), critical care, and anesthesia for structural heart interventions, which are crucial for treating high-risk patients and improving long-term outcomes.

Their findings have been consistently published in world-renowned journals, including Anesthesiology, British Journal of Anaesthesia, European Heart Journal, Intensive Care Medicine, Critical Care, and Brain, earning international academic recognition. Moreover, their research has been cited and incorporated into international guidelines and recommendations, contributing to the establishment of clinical standards and the advancement of anesthetic practice and healthcare policy.

Education and Collaboration

The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center is deeply committed not only to clinical excellence but also to professional education and academic collaboration. The section operates a specialized training program in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to cultivate the next generation of cardiothoracic anesthesiologists and enhances the academic depth of patient care through education and research based on cardiac and critical care physiology.

In addition, the team actively expands knowledge and expertise in cardiothoracic anesthesia through close partnerships with domestic and international academic societies and research networks, leading multidisciplinary education and collaborative research initiatives.

Vision

The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center aims to establish a comprehensive cardiothoracic and vascular anesthetic care system that prioritizes not only patient safety but also postoperative recovery and long-term outcomes. Having pioneered the introduction of PBM (Patient Blood Management) and ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) in cardiac anesthesia for the first time in Korea, the section continues to advance clinical excellence through large-scale research and the development of innovative treatment strategies.

Cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia is one of the most technically demanding and highly specialized subspecialties in anesthesiology, playing an essential role within the national healthcare system. Accordingly, the section is committed to systematically training the next generation of cardiothoracic anesthesiologists, integrating education, research, and clinical experience to cultivate internationally competitive expertise in future specialists.

Building upon the three pillars of clinical practice, research, and education, the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center will continue to enhance patients’ quality of life and strengthen its global leadership in shaping the future of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia in Korea.