Cardiac Anesthesiology Research

Research continues to play an important part of the mission of the Division of Cardiac Anesthesiology as we continually strive to improve patient care. Research focuses on predicting perioperative risk, characterization of patient outcomes and tailoring patient care towards prevention of adverse events during all stages of the perioperative period. Our perioperative database has enabled the division to develop a CARE risk score predicting morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery, assess post-surgical severity of illness in the intensive care unit (ICU) as well as monitor quality measures and targeted outcomes of interest. 

We work in close collaboration with our surgical and allied health colleagues from the institute, other departments and cardiac centres to participate in multi-center trials and investigator driven studies.  

Director

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Publications

Selected publications:

  1. Labrosse, M. R., Beller, C. J., Boodhwani, M., Hudson, C., & Sohmer, B. (2015). Subject-specific finite-element modeling of normal aortic valve biomechanics from 3D+t TEE images. Medical Image Analysis, 20(1), 162-172. PMID25476416
  2. Al-Atassi, T., Hynes, M., Sohmer, B., Lam, B., Mesana, T., & Boodhwani, M. (2014). Aortic root geometry in bicuspid aortic insufficiency versus stenosis: Implications for valve repair. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, PMID25549992
  3. C.C.C. Hudson, B. McDonald, J.K.C.  Hudson, D. Tran, M. Boodhwani. “Impact of Anesthetic Handover on Mortality and Morbidity in Cardiac Surgery: A Cohort Study” J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2015, 29:11-16.
  4. Stoppe, C., McDonald, B., Rex, S., Manzanares, W., Whitlock, R., Fremes, S., Fowler, R., Lamarche, Y., Meybohm, P., Haberthur, C., Rossaint, R., Goetzenich, A., Elke, G., Day, A., & Heyland, D. K. (2014). SodiUm SeleniTe administration IN cardiac surgery (SUSTAIN CSX-trial): Study design of an international multicenter randomized double-blinded controlled trial of high dose sodium-selenite administration in high-risk cardiac surgical patients. Trials, 15, 339-6215-15-339. PMID25169040
  5. Sohmer, B., Hudson, C., Hudson, J., Posner, G. D., & Naik, V. (2014). Transesophageal echocardiography simulation is an effective tool in teaching psychomotor skills to novice echocardiographers. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien d'Anesthésie, 61(3), 235-241. PMID24271567
  6. Sun L, Boodhwani M, Baer H, McDonald B. The association between tracheostomy and sternal wound infection in postoperative cardiac surgery patients. Can J Anesth 2013;60:684-691.
  7. Sohmer B, Hudson C, Atherstone J, Lambert AS, Labrosse M, Boodhwani M. Measuring aortic valve coaptation surface area using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.  Can J Anesth 2013;60:24-31. Epub 2012 Nov 07.
  8. Chan V, Ruel M, Chaudry S, Lambert S, Mesana TG. Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after repair of mitral valve bileaflet prolapse due to myxomatous disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012 ;143(4 Suppl):S8-S11.
  9. D. T. T. Tran, J-Y Dupuis, T. Mesana, M. Ruel, H.Nathan, “Comparison of the EuroSCORE and Cardiac Anesthesia Risk Evaluation(CARE) score for risk-adjusted mortality analysis in cardiac surgery” Eur J Cardio-thor Surg 2012, 41:307-313.
  10. Boodhwani M, Hamilton A, de Varennes B, Mesana T, Williams K, Wells GA, Nathan H, Dupuis JY, Babaev A, Wells P, Rubens FD. A multicenter randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility of testing modified ultrafiltration as a blood conservation technology in cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;139:701-6.
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Staff

Our researchers have training in clinical epidemiology, research methods, pharmacology, education and echocardiography.  

Current team members:

Jean-Yves Dupuis, MD
Christopher Hudson, MD
Bernard McDonald, MD, PhD
Benjamin Sohmer, MD
Louise Sun, MD
Diem Tran, MD

We are supported by a research coordinator and research assistant along with the regular participation of students, residents and fellows.

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Projects

Current research themes include:

  • Use of new technologies and techniques for perioperative monitoring and to directing patient management
  • Prediction and prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation
  • Blood product conservation and use of point-of-care devices
  • Prediction and evaluation of diastolic dysfunction 
  • Assessment of right heart function and prediction of postoperative right heart failure
  • Hemodynamic markers for stroke prevention and renal injury
  • Severity of illness in the ICU and predictors of long ICU stay
  • Postoperative delirium and management
  • Long-term outcomes after discharge from cardiac surgery
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Available Positions

Contact: Dr. Diem Tran

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