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Divisions
Department Of AnesthesiologyDivisionsCardiothoracic Anesthesiology

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 supports, including ventricular assist device, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to critically ill patients.

Our division members work closely with surgeons, perfusionists, and intensivists in a wide variety of cases, including minimally invasive valve repairs, coronary revascularization, major aortic surgery, ventricular assist device placement, transplantations, and adult congenital procedures. During these procedures, our division provides perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) service with the help of sonographers using 4 TEE machines with 3D imaging capabilities.

The members of our team constantly strive to improve the quality of care for cardiovascular patients based off critical review of 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

  • Jessica Chou, MD
  • Giles Dongmo, MD
  • Aaron Sachs, MD

Sonographers

  • Inna Shats, MA, BS, RDCS, FASE, Chief Sonographer - EMAIL
  • Bobby Ezzati, RCS - EMAIL
  • Kristen Jordan, RDCS - EMAIL
  • Sarah Krejak, RDCS - EMAIL
  • Glenda March - EMAIL

Education and Research

Education: Our faculty members actively in teach residents, fellows, and medical students in and out of ORs. Anesthesiology residents are exposed to a wide variety of anesthetic techniques along with TEE, and blood conservation techniques.  Participation in Cardiothoracic Fellowship provides further specialization in cardiothoracic anesthesiology by providing extensive TEE training, patient blood management, and research opportunities. Dr Odonkor currently serves as an ABA Oral Board Examiner, ABA MOCA minute question writer and member of the Standardized Oral Examination Committee at the ABA.

Research: 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. One of the major research focuses in the Division 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.

Service:

  • Dr. Strauss was selected to serve as a member of the SCA research committee.
  • Dr. Henderson was selected to serve as a member of the SCA Blood Conservation Committee. He also serves on the Faculty Senate, Diversity Advisory Committee and Admission Committee at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • Dr. Odonkor serves as a member on the Perfusion Advisory Committee of the Maryland Board of Physicians.

Oral Presentation:

  •  Henderson RA, Hematological Effects After Autologous Blood Infusion in Cardiac Surgical Patients, SABM, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Oral. 2020

Recent Publications

AY2023

  1. 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;https://doi.org/10.1053/ j.jvca.2023.08.132.

 

  1. Mondal S. 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.

 

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

 

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

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Strauss ER, VanDyck K, Mazzeffi MA. Tranexamic acid for cesarean delivery: induction of a regimen for postpartum hemorrhage? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(1):110-111. PMID: 35998746.
  2. Kahntroff S, Hollander K, Stewart K, Tanaka KA. Role of Intrinsic Pathway in Coagulation After Use of Activated Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Neonatal Cardiac Surgery. Anesth Analg. 2023;136(6):e39-e40. PMID: 37205822.

 

  1. 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):353-355. PMID: 35799567.

 

  1. Everette 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

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

 

  1. Fontaine MJ, Lasola JJ, Henderson RA. Perioperative Platelet Transfusion: Not All Platelet Products Are Created Equal. Curr Anesthesiol Rep. 2022;320-328.

 

  1. Mazzeffi M, 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.

 

  1. Yang S, Williams B, Kaczorowski D, Mazzeffi. Overt Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation with Severe Hypofibrinogenemia During Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2022;54(2):148-152. PMID: 35928342.

 

  1. Mondal S, Faraday N, Gao WD, Singh S, Hebbar 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. PMCID: PMC9319456.

 

  1. Choi S, Mazzeffi MA, Henderson R, Mondal S, Morita Y, Deshpande S, Tanaka K. 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.

 

  1. 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;14(2):e22591. PMID: 35371650.

 

  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.

 

  1. del Valle M, Hollander K. Diffuse Coronary Artery Spasm After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8 Pt A):2575-2577. PMID: 34583853.

 

  1. 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):3175-3186. PMID: 35624038.

 

  1. Bergbower EAS, Odonkor P. Con: Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution Should not be used in Infective Endocarditis. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(8 Pt A):2815-2818. PMID: 35501262.

 

  1. Strauss ER, Li S, Henderson R, Carpenter R, Guo D, Thangaraju K, Katneni U, Buehler PW, Gobburu JVS, 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Fabbro M 2nd, Patel PA, Henderson RA Jr, Bolliger D, Tanaka KA, Mazzeffi MA. Coagulation and Transfusion Updates From 2021. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022;36(9):3447-3458. PMID: 35750604. 

 

  1. Silverman H, Odonkor PN. Reevaluating the Ethical Issues in Porcine-to-Human Heart Xenotransplantation. Hastings Cent Rep. 2022;52(5):32-42. PMID: 36226875.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Shah A, Goerlich CE, Pasrija C, Hirsch J, Fisher S, Odonkor P, Strauss E, Ayares D, Mohiuddin MM, 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.

 

  1. Odonkor P, Strauss E, Williams B. Ethical considerations during a pioneering surgical procedure: porcine cardiac xenotransplantation. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022;83(6):1-7. PMID: 35787171.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Mueller JH, Hollander K. 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.

 

  1. Denault A, Couture EJ, De Medicis É, Shim JK, Mazzeffi M, Henderson RA, Langevin S, Dhawan R, Michaud M, Guensch DP, Berger D, Erb JM, Gebhard CE, Royse C, 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.

 

  1. Strauss E, Taneja, M, Booth R, et al. Antifibrinolytics in Cardiac Surgery: What Is the Best Practice in 2022?. Curr Anesthesiol Rep. 2022;12:501–507.

 

  1. 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. 2021;35(2):406-417. PMID: 32811752.

 

  1. Chow JH, Khanna AK, Kethireddy S, Yamane D, Levine A, Jackson AM, McCurdy MT, Tabatabai A, Kumar G, Park P, Benjenk I, Menaker J, Ahmed N, Glidewell E, Presutto E, Cain S, Haridasa N, Field W, Fowler JG, Trinh D, Johnson KN, Kaur A, Lee A, Sebastian K, Ulrich A, Peña S, Carpenter R, Sudhakar S, Uppal P, Fedeles BT, Sachs A, Dahbour L, Teeter W, Tanaka K, Galvagno SM, Herr DL, Scalea TM, Mazzeffi MA. Aspirin Use Is Associated With Decreased Mechanical Ventilation, Intensive Care Unit Admission, and In-Hospital Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019. Anesth Analg. 2021;132(4):930-941. PMID: 33093359.

 

  1. Sankova S, Deshpande S, Miller SP, Tanaka K. Anesthesia in the Postgenomic Era: Commercial Polymorphism Screening in a Cardiac Surgery Patient. Anesth Analg. 2021;132(6):1781-1785. PMID: 33780384.

 

  1. Grewal A, Odonkor P, Ghoreishi M, Deshpande SP. Anesthetic Considerations in Endovascular Repair of the Ascending Aorta. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;S1053-0770(21):S1053-0770. PMID: 34059437.

 

  1. Deshpande SP, Makkad B. Pro: Length of Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Training Should Be Extended Beyond One Year. J Cardiothor Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(8), 2513-2516. PMID: 33653577.

 

  1. Henderson RA, Judd M, Strauss ER, Gammie JS, Mazzeffi MA, Taylor BS, Tanaka KA. Hematologic evaluation of intraoperative autologous blood collection and allogeneic transfusion in cardiac surgery. Transfusion. 2021;61(3):788-798. PMID: 33423288.

 

  1. Pasrija C, Quinn RW, Bernstein D, Tran D, Alkhatib H, Rice M, Morales D, Shah A, Ghoreishi M, Strauss ER, Henderson R, D'Ambra MN, Gammie JS. Mitral Valve Translocation: A Novel Operation for the Treatment of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2021;112(6):1954-1961. PMID: 34419436.

 

  1. Patel PA, Henderson RA, Bolliger D, Erdoes G, Mazzeffi MA. The Year in Coagulation: Selected Highlights from 2020. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(8):2260-2272. PMID: 33781668.

 

  1. Mazzeffi M, Judd M, Rabin J, Tabatabai A, Menaker J, Menne A, Chow J, Shah A, Henderson R, Herr D, Tanaka K. Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Levels During Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Adults. ASAIO J. 2021; 67(8):878-883. PMID: 33606392.

 

  1. Lopez K, Suen A, Yang Y, Wang S, Williams B, Zhu J, Hu J, Fiskum G, Cross A, Kozar R, Miller C, Zou L, Chao W. Hypobaria Exposure Worsens Cardiac Function and Endothelial Injury in an Animal Model of Polytrauma: Implications for Aeromedical Evacuation. Shock. 2021;56(4):601-610. PMID: 33394971.

 

  1. Mondal S, Hollander KN, Ibekwe SO, Williams B, Tanaka KA. Heyde Syndrome-Pathophysiology and Perioperative Implications. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(11):3331-3339. PMID: 33132021.

 

  1. Goerlich CE, Griffith B, Avneesh S, Mohamed A, Shreya S, Kolesnik I, Lewis B, Sentz F, Tatarov I, Hershfeld A, Zhang T, Strauss E, Odonkor P, Williams B, Tabatabai A, Bhutta A, Ayares D, Kaczorowski D, Mohiuddin M. Blood Cardioplegia Induction, Perfusion Storage and Graft Dysfunction in Cardiac Xenotransplantation. Front Immunol. 2021;12:667093. PMID: 34177906.