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Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

The faculty members of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology are skilled clinicians who provide anesthesia services for over 1,400 cases a year in state-of-the-art operating rooms (ORs) as well as the electrophysiology, and cardiac catheterization laboratories. The University of Maryland Medical Center offers advanced cardiopulmonary life support, including ventricular assist devices, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to critically ill patients.

Our division members work closely with the cardiac surgeons and cardiac surgical team in a wide variety of cases, including coronary revascularization-both open and robotic, open and robotic valve repair/replacements, major aortic surgery, endovascular aortic procedures for the ascending aorta, arch as well as descending aorta,  ventricular assist device placement, pulmonary thromboendoarterectomies (PTE), heart and lung transplantation  and structural heart interventions such as TAVRs, Mitraclips, Watchman and TriClip procedures . During these procedures, our division provides perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) service along with the help of sonographers using TEE machines with 3D imaging capabilities.

The members of our team constantly strive to improve the quality of care for cardiovascular patients based off our performances in blood conservation, thromboprophylaxis, and infection control. The collaborative atmosphere among different specialties typifies one of the many strengths of our medical center.

Faculty

Fellows

Sonographers

    • Bobby Ezzati, RCS - EMAIL
    • Kristen Jordan, RDCS - EMAIL
    • Sarah Krejak, RDCS - EMAIL

 

Education and Research

Our faculty members actively in teach residents, fellows, and medical students in and out of ORs. Anesthesiology residents are exposedBrittany Williams Presents Poster to a wide variety of anesthetic techniques along with TEE, and blood conservation techniques.  Our Cardiothoracic Fellowship provides further specialization in cardiothoracic anesthesiology by providing extensive TEE training, care of complex cardiac patients, patient blood management, and research opportunities. Dr. Odonkor serves as an ABA Oral Board Examiner, ABA MOCA minute question author and member of the Standardized Oral Examination Committee at the ABA. Dr Deshpande serves as a Question author for the ABA ‎‎‎Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (ACA) Exam‎‎‎ Committee and Dr Hollander as a Question author for the ‎‎‎ABA Advanced Exam Committee.

Cardiothoracic Division members actively conduct their own research, participate in multi-center clinical trials, and support cardiac surgeons in evaluating new surgical techniques and cardiopulmonary devices. One of the major research focuses is coagulation monitoring in complex cardiac surgery. Dr. Williams spends a significant proportion of her time in the laboratory and her research interests include cardiopulmonary bypass associated coagulopathy and sepsis induced coagulopathy. Drs. Williams, Strauss and Odonkor are actively involved in the Cardiac Xenotransplantation program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which has produced the longest surviving orthotopic pig heart to baboon xenotransplant. Dr. Strauss was involved in the first successful minimally invasive intraoperative TEE guided “HARPOON” assisted repair of the Mitral Valve in North America.

State and National Service:

  • Dr. Henderson serves as a member of the SCA Blood Conservation Committee
  • Dr. Odonkor serves as an ABA Oral Board Examiner, ABA MOCA minute question author and member of the Standardized Oral Examination Committee at the ABA. He also is a member of the Perfusion Advisory Committee of the Maryland Board of Physicians.
  • Dr. Deshpande serves a member of the SCA DEI committee, the Women in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia (WICTA) Special Interest group of the SCA, ASA Committee on Residents and Medical Students, ASA Committee on Professional Diversity and ASA Committee on Academic Anesthesiology. She also serves as a Question author for the ABA ‎‎‎Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (ACA) Exam‎‎‎ Committee.
  • Dr. Mondal is a member of the SCA Scientific Program Committee, SCA Echo Week Committee, SCA DEI committee, the WICTA special interest group of the SCA, ASA Committee on Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia and ASA Transplant Committee    
  • Hollander serves as a Question author for the ‎‎‎ABA Advanced Exam Committee.
  • Williams is a member of the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine

Recent Publications

2022

1.      Makkad B, Deshpande SP. Con: Interviews for Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Program: In Favor of the In-Person Interview. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(4):1209-1213. PMID: 34903455.

2.      Bergbower E, Park PS, Deshpande S. The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters: Anesthetic Management for IVC Filter Retrieval in the Setting of Filter Thrombosis. Cureus. 2022;25;14(2):e22591. PMID: 35371650.

3.      Choi S, Mazzeffi MA, Henderson R, Mondal S, Morita Y, Deshpande S, Tanaka KA. The FIBTEM paradox: Do coronary artery bypass grafting patients with high baseline FIBTEM clot firmness need more allogeneic blood transfusion? Transfusion. 2022;62(10):2020-2028. PMID: 36053950. 

4.      Everett L, Davis TA, Deshpande SP, Mondal S. Implementation of Bilateral Rectus Sheath Blocks in Conjunction With Transversus Thoracis Plane and Pectointercostal Fascial Blocks for Immediate Postoperative Analgesia After Cardiac Surgery. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e26592. PMID: 35936156.

5.      Barrera L, Mondal S. Ethical and Clinical dilemma from an incidental cardiac lipoma in a young and healthy patient. Ann Card Anesth. 2022;25(3)(Jul-Sep 2022):353-355. PMID: 35799567. 

6.      Smeltz AM, Coleman PJ, Mondal S. Pro: Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution Should Be Used in Infective Endocarditis Patients Coming for Primary or Redo Cardiac Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8 Pt A):2811-2814. PMID: 35431117.

7.      Mondal S, Bergbower ES, Cheung E, Grewal AS, Ghoreishi M, Hollander KN, Anders MG, Taylor BS, Tanaka KA. Role of cardiac anesthesiologists in intraoperative Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERACS) protocol - A retrospective single center study analyzing preliminary result of yearlong ERACS protocol implementation. J Cardiothoracic Vasc Anesth. 2022;S1053-0770(22):00794-7. PMID: 36517338. 

8.      Mondal S, Faraday N, Gao W, Singh S, Hebber S, Hollander KN, Metkus TS, Goeddel LA, Bauer M, Bush B, Cho B, Cha S, Ibekwe SO, Mladinov D, Rolleri NS, Lester L, Steppan J, Sheinberg R, Hensley NB, Kapoor A, Dodd-o JM. Selected Transesophageal Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function Predict Length of Stay Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft—A Prospective Observational Study. J Clin Med. 2022;11(14):3980. PMID: 35887745. 

9.    Mueller J, Hollander KN. Use of intraoperative coronary angiography to guide surgical intervention in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Ann Card Anaesth. 2022;25(4):525-527. PMID: 36254922. 

10.     Kahntroff S, Hollander K, Stewart K, Tanaka K. Role of intrinsic pathway in coagulation after use of activated prothrombin complex concentrate in neonatal cardiac surgery. Anesth Analg. 2023;136(6): 39-e40. PMID: 37205822.

11.     Shah A, Goerlich CE, Pasrijah C, Hirsch J, Fisher S, Odonkor P, Strauss E, Ayares D, Mohiuddin M, Griffith BP. Anatomical Differences Between Human and Pig Hearts and Their Relevance for Cardiac Xenotransplantation Surgical Technique. JACC Case Rep. 2022;4(16):1049-1052. PMID: 36062051. 

12.     Smith Bergbower EA, Odonkor PN. Con: Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution Should not be used in Infective Endocarditis. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8):2815-2818. PMID: 35501262. 

13.     Odonkor P, Strauss E, Williams B. Ethical considerations during a pioneering surgical procedure: porcine cardiac xenotransplantation. Br J Hosp Med. 2022;83.6):1-7. PMID: 35787171. 

14.     Strauss ER, Odonkor PN, Williams B. Porcine Orthotopic Cardiac Xenotransplantation: The Role and Perspective of Anesthesiologists. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8):2847-2850. PMID: 35537973. 

15.     Mohiuddin MM, Goerlich CE, Singh AK, Zhang T, Odonkor P. Progressive Genetic Modifications of Porcine Cardiac Xenografts Extend Survival to 9 Months. Xenotransplantation. 2022;29(3):e12744. PMID: 35357044. 

16.     Silverman H, Odonkor P. Reevaluating the Ethical Issues in Porcine-to-Human Heart Xenotransplantation. Hastings Center Report. 2022;52(5):32-42. PMID: 36226875. 

17.     Strauss E, Dahmane E, Judd M, Guo D, Williams B, Meyer M, Gammie JS, Taylor B, Mazzeffi MA, Gobburu JV, Tanaka KA. A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Investigation of an ε-Aminocaproic acid regimen designed for the context of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;35(2):406-417. PMID: 32811752. 

18.     Strauss ER, Taneja M, Booth R, Sankova S, Anders G. Antifibrinolytics in Cardiac Surgery: What Is the Best Practice in 2022?. Curr Anesthesiol Rep. 2022;12(4):501-507. 

19.     Tanaka KA, Henderson R, Thangaraju K, Morita Y, Mazzeffi MA, Strauss E, Katneni U, Buehler PW. In vitro effects of emicizumab on activated clotting time in blood samples from cardiac surgical patients. Haemophilia. 2022;28(1):183-190. PMID: 34735039. 

20.     Strauss ER, Quinn RW, Pasrija C, Henderson R, Holmes SD, D'Ambra MN, Gammie JS. Intraoperative echocardiographic assessment of mitral valve translocation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2022;62(2):ezac133. PMID: 35277715. 

21.     Mazzeffi MA, Henderson R, Powell E, Strauss E, Williams B, Tanaka K, Yang S, Deatrick K, Madathil R. Thrombopoietin, Soluble CD40 Ligand, and Platelet Count During Veno-arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. ASAIO J. 2022;68(5):e77-e79. PMID: 34081052. 

22.     Strauss ER, VanDyck K, Mazzeffi MA. Tranexamic acid for cesarean delivery: induction of a regimen for postpartum hemorrhage?. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;S0002-9378((22):00672-X. PMID: 35998746. 

23.     Pasrija C, Quinn R, Strauss E, Wang L, Tran D, D'Ambra MN, Gammie JS. Translocation of the Mitral Valve in an Acute Large Animal Model. J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2022;15(5):1100-1107. PMID: 35175554. 

24.     Strauss ER, Li S, Henderson R, Carpenter R, Guo D, Thangaraju K, Katneni U, Buehler PW, Gobburu JV, Tanaka KA. A Pharmacokinetic and Plasmin-Generation Pharmacodynamic Assessment of a Tranexamic Acid Regimen Designed for Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8 Pt A):2473-2482. PMID: 35094925.

25.        Fabbro M, Patel PA, Henderson RA, Bolliger D, Tanaka KA, Mazzeffi MA. Coagulation and Transfusion Updates From 2021. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(9):3447-3458. PMID: 35750604. 

26.        Mazzeffi M, Henderson R, Krause E, Rabin J, Madathil R, Chow J, Grazioli A, Meyer M, Wu Z, Tanaka K. In Vitro Comparison of Recombinant and Plasma-Derived von Willebrand Factor Concentrate for Treatment of Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Adult Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients. Anesth Analg. 2022;134(2):312-321. PMID: 34903705. 

27.        Denault A, Couture EJ, De Medicis E, Shim J, Mazzeffi M, Henderson RA, Langevin S, Dhawan R, Michaud M, Guensch DP, Berger D, Erb JM, Gebhard CE, Royse X, Levy D, Lamarche Y, Dagenais F, Deschamps A, Desjardins G, Beaubien-Souligny W. Perioperative Doppler ultrasound assessment of portal vein flow pulsatility in high-risk cardiac surgery patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 2022;129(5):659-669. PMID: 36184294. 

28.        Fontaine MJ, Lasola JJ, Henderson RA. Perioperative Platelet Transfusion: Not All Platelet Products Are Created Equal. Curr Anesthesiol Reports. 2022;12:320-328. DOI: 10.1007/s40140-022-00522-4. 

29.     Strauss ER, Dahmane E, Judd M, Guo D, Williams B, Meyer MS, Gammie JS, Taylor BS, Mazzeffi MA, Gobburu JA, Tanaka KA. A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Investigation of an ε-Aminocaproic acid regimen designed for the context of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. J Cardiothor Vasc Anesth. 2022;35(2):406-417. PMID: 2811752. 

30.        Morita Y, Williams B, Yamada Y, Kariya T. Effect of Anesthesia Machine Ventilator and ICU Ventilator on Intraoperative Oxygenation and Ventilation. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8 Pt B):3175-3185. PMID: 35624038.  

31.        Williams B, Kozar R, Chao W. Emerging Role of Extracellular RNA in Innate Immunity, Sepsis, and Trauma. Shock. 2022;59(2):190-199. PMID: 36730864. 

32.        Williams B, Zhu J, Zou L, Chao W. Innate immune TLR7 signaling mediates platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregate formation in murine bacterial sepsis. Platelets. 2022;33(8):1251-1259.  PMID: 35920588. 

33.        Williams B, Zhu J, Chao W. Innate immune TLR7 signaling mediates platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregate formation in murine bacterial sepsis. Platelets. 2022;33(8):1251-1259. PMID: 35920588. 

34.        Bartels K, Howard-Quijano K, Prin M, Shaefi S, Steppan J, Sun EC, Williams B, Fox AA, Namuyonga J, Shaw AD, Vavilala MS, Sessler DI. Meeting Report: First Cardiovascular Outcomes Research in Perioperative Medicine Conference. Anesth Analg. 2022;136(2):418-420. PMID: 36638519.  

35.        Yang S, Williams B, Kaczorowski D, Mazzeffi M. Overt Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation with Severe Hypofibrinogenemia During Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2022;54(2):148-152. 

36.        Huang H, Zhu J, Gu L, Hu J, Feng Z, Huang W, Wang S, Yang Y, Cui P, Lin S, Suen A, Shimada BK, Williams B, Kane MA, Ke Y, Chen C, Birukova AA, Birukov KG, Chao W, Zou L. TLR7 Mediates Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Sepsis by Sensing Extracellular miR-146a. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022;67(3): 375-388. PMID: 35679261. 

2023

1.      Methangkool E, Faloye A, Kolarczyk L, Deshpande S, Belani K, Trzcinka A, Lewis CR, Balimunkwe RM, Oakes D. The Women in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Special Interest Group: What Can the Lessons of One Anesthesiology Affinity Group Tell Us About How to Build Impactful Professional Communities? Anesth Analg. 2023;137(4):763-771. PMID: 37712467.

2.      Vandyck KB, Rusin W, Mondal S, Tanaka KA. Coagulation management during liver transplantation: monitoring and decision making for hemostatic interventions. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2023; 28(6):404-411. PMID: 37728052. 

3.      Mondal S. Commentary: 'Intrathecal Morphine for Analgesia in Robotic Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass and Myocardial Bridge Unroofing'. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2023;37(2):322-323. PMID: 36396572. 

4.      Ibekwe SO, Mondal S, Faloye AO. Pulmonary prehabilitation and smoking cessation. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2023;36(1):96-102. PMID: 36550610. 

5.      Strauss ER, Odonkor PN, Williams B, Choi S, Mueller J, Taylor B, Shah A, Goerlich CE, Mohiuddin MM, Griffith BP. Intraoperative Management of an Orthotopic Porcine-to-Human Cardiac Xenotransplant. Ann Thorac Surg. 2023;115(3):784-786. PMID: 36621667. 

6.      Ghoreishi M, Chahal D, Shah A, Kang J, Hirsch J, Tran D, McCloskey D, Shkullaku M, Gupta A, Strauss ER, Dahi S, Taylor BS, Toursavadkohi S. First-in-Human Endovascular Aortic Root Repair (Endo-Bentall) for Acute Type A Dissection. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2023;16(10):e013348. PMID: 37737022. 

7.      Guinn N, Tanaka K, Erdoes G, Kwak J, Henderson R, Mazzeffi M, Fabbro M, Raphael J. The Year in Coagulation and Transfusion: Selected Highlights from 2022. J Cardiothor Vasc Anesth. 2023;37(12):2435-2449. PMID: 37690951.

8.      Suen AO, Chen F, Wang S, Li Z, Zhu J, Yang Y, Conn O, Lopez K, Cui P, Wechsler L, Cross A, Fiskum G, Kozar R, Hu P, Miller C, Zou L, Williams B, Chao W. Extracellular RNA Sensing Mediates Inflammation and Organ Injury in a Murine Model of Polytrauma. J Immunol. 2023;210(12):1990-2000. PMID: 37133342. 

9.      Bartels K, Howard-Quijano K, Prin M, Shaefi S, Steppan J, Sun E, Williams B, Fox AA, Namuyonga J, Shaw AD, Vavilala MS, Sessler D. Meeting Report: First Cardiovascular Outcomes Research in Perioperative Medicine Conference. Anesth Analg. 2023;136(2):418-420. PMID: 36638519. 

10.     Mondal S, Deshpande SP. Reverse Takotsubo Stress Cardiomyopathy During Liver   Transplantation. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2023;37(4):654-656. PMID: 36682918.

2024

1.      Ibekwe SO, Mondal S. “Right vs Right”—Respect Patient's Rights or Do the Right Course of Treatment: A Commentary Surrounding a Patient's Refusal of Emergent. J Cardiothor Vasc Anesth. 2024;38(2): 549-551. PMID: 38071147. 

2.      Ibekwe SO, Everett L, Mondal S. Methadone Should Not Be Used in Cardiac Surgery as Part of Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery Protocol. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2024;38(5):1272-1274. PMID: 38503627.   

3.      Mondal S, Abuelkasem E, Vesselinov R, Henderson R, Choi S, Mousa A, Zaza KJ, Tanaka KA. Protamine dosing and its impact in cardiac surgery transfusion practice-A retrospective bi-institutional analysis. Transfusion. 2024;64(2):467-474.  PMID: 38264767

4.      Strauss E, Mali M, Henderson R, Mondal S. What Comes First the Transfusion or the Primary Graft Dysfunction? (RE: Bottiger B et al, Anesthesiology [April] 2024). Anesthesiology. PMID: Accepted. 2024 

5.      Mondal S, Oakes DA, Humphrey T, Kolarczyk L, Trzcinka A. Women in Anesthesiology and the Mid-Career Stall: Why They Are Not Advancing Into Senior Leadership. Anesth Analg. 2024;DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006826.  PMID: 38289857.

6.      Williams B, Henderson R, Mazzeffi M, Tanaka K. FEIBA: Too Potent a Potion or Just Right for Post-CPB Bleeding?. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2024;38(9):1882-1884. PMID: 38972817.  

7.      Mondal S, Abuelkasem E, Vesselinov R, Henderson R, Choi S, Mousa A, Zaza KJ, Tanaka KA. Protamine dosing and its impact in cardiac surgery transfusion practice-A retrospective bi-institutional analysis. Transfusion. 2024;64(3):467-474. PMID: 38264767.  

8.      Parrino CR, Grewal AS, Gibbons M, Toursavadkohi SA, Rock P, Anders MG. Nasal Intubation is not associated with "smoother" emergence from general anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy: a case-cohort study. Ann Vasc Surg. 2024;102, 56-63. PMID: 38296037. 

9.         Grewal AS, Garcia S, Mali M. Pro: Methadone Should Be Used as a Part of Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery Protocol. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2024;38(5): 1268-1271. PMID: 38458828. 

10.     Milam AJ, Bonner TJ, Burton BN, Williams B, Youssef MR, Smith RN, Cannesson M, Troianos C, Pittet J. The Difficulty Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in the Perioperative Setting. Anesth Analg. 2024;139(4):874-880. PMID: 39052524.

11.     Eberlein M, Reed RM, Gharaibeh K, Charya A, Grazioli A, Henderson R, Krupnick AS, Bittle G. Small recipient chest cavity from fibrotic lung disease in lung transplantation: Physiology matters. JHLT Open. 2024;100123.  

12.     Mondal S, Wasylyshyn C, Vesselinov R, Gibbons M, Bhati C, Jones SE, Rock P, Anders MG. Impact of intraoperative Desmopressin on postoperative urine in adult cadaveric kidney transplant – a single center retrospective study. Can J Anesth. Accepted