Orthopedic Anesthesia Division

We provide comprehensive, specialized care for patients undergoing orthopedic, oral and maxillofacial, and pain medicine procedures.

The Massachusetts General Hospital Orthopedic Anesthesia Division in the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine (DACCPM) provides expert perioperative care to patients with significant underlying diseases and conditions and traumatic injuries. As a Level 1 trauma and internationally renowned referral center, our physicians care for patients requiring a range of complex procedures and surgeries including:

• Emergency trauma
• Hand surgery
• Joint arthroplasty
• Oral and maxillofacial
• Orthopedic oncology
• Pain medicine procedures
• Pediatric surgery
• Spine surgery
• Sports medicine

A Collaborative Approach to Specialized Care

Physicians in the Orthopedic Anesthesia Division work closely with specialists throughout Mass General, including internists, geriatricians, cardiologists, intensivists and pain medicine physicians, to optimize the perioperative care rendered to our patients.

We collaborate closely with clinicians in the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Pain Management Center to recommend the best anesthetic service for their procedures, ensuring that patients receive individualized care.

Expert, Innovative Techniques

Our clinicians perform more than 8,000 anesthetic procedures annually. A wide variety of regional anesthetic techniques are skillfully utilized in caring for our patients, including peripheral nerve blocks, continuous catheters and spinal anesthesia. We offer regional anesthesia techniques to many patients to optimize pain control and mobility early in the postoperative period. Advanced airway management techniques, such as fiberoptic intubation, are frequently used to manage known or suspected difficult airways.

---

Leadership Team

• Bruna Castro De Oliveira, MD—Director
• Linda Castellano—Administrative Coordinator

Meet the team

---

Patient Experience

If you are a patient needing surgery, you will have the opportunity to meet with your anesthesiologist and other members of your care team on the day of your surgery. Your anesthesiologist will be able to answer any questions on what to expect before, during and after your procedure.

If you have had complications with anesthesia or pain management during previous procedures, our specialists can meet with you before the day of your surgery to review your medical history, discuss appropriate options and develop a specialized treatment plan. We are committed to providing the best care possible at all stages in your treatment.

Educating the Future Leaders of Anesthesia

Clinical care is the primary educational vehicle of resident physicians and regional anesthesia fellows. The educational experience is enhanced with bedside teaching, formal didactic sessions and workshops. The Orthopedic Anesthesia Division has a group of dedicated faculty that supervises and educates anesthesiology residents during a formal clinical rotation in regional anesthesia. This rapidly growing service offers a fellowship program along with numerous opportunities for clinical research.

Learn more about our Anesthesia Residency Program and Acute Pain and Regional Anesthesia Fellowship

Community Outreach

The Orthopedic Anesthesia Division serves the local, national and international community by participating in disaster relief efforts, cultivating interest in health care amongst high school and college students, establishing regional anesthesia curricula abroad in the developing world and participating in the airway management training of paraprofessionals.

Research in the Field

Members of our division pursue numerous research projects and academic areas of interest that include:

• Disaster relief
• Education in the developing world
• Low-dose spinal anesthesia
• Quality and safety improvement
• Perioperative process improvement
• Regional anesthesia
• Simulation

Learn more about our research and global health initiatives.

The Mass General Difference

Mass General has consistently been recognized as a top hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is based on our quality of care, patient safety, and reputation in more than a dozen clinical specialties. Our commitment to excellence means that we work to ensure that you receive the best care at all points during your visit. Patients in the Orthopedic Anesthesia Division benefit from shared expertise, leading research, and our commitment to quality and excellence.