Research

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to support patients with advanced cardiac and/or pulmonary failure. More recently, venoarterial (VA) ECMO has been used as an adjunct to CPR, which has increased the number of patients on extracorporeal support. 

Trauma Outcomes

Dr. Tran's research interests involve cardiothoracic and trauma surgery utilizing large national databases. He has particular interest in implementing machine learning models as outcome predictors.

Social Disparities and Access to Care

Catherine Williamson is studying social disparities in a wide breadth of specialties including congenital cardiac surgery, mechanical circulatory support, and respiratory failure. She is also investigating relationships between hospital volume and patient outcomes. Her work is focused on highlighting issues surrounding access to care and reevaluating previous guidelines for surgical candidacy.

3D Printing

Arjun Verma is developing methods to 3D print anatomically accurate heart models to improve surgeon training and procedural preparedness. Using flexible materials, surgeons can practice surgical techniques on these models. 

Readmissions Reduction

Imani McElroy is currently working on modifying protocols for readmission reduction programs at our institution in hopes of lowering readmissions rates of cardiac surgery patients. She hopes her research can also be used to reduce the disparity gap for underserved patients.

Optic-based Air Leak and Pressure Detection in Chest Tube Drainage Systems

Esteban Aguayo is developing and investigating a LED optically-based bubble detection system for use with Pleurovac chest tube drainage systems to quantify and analyze the presence of air leaks in cardiac surgery patients. 

Perioperative Transfusions in Surgical Patients

Since 2012, Sohail Sareh has been involved in a number of projects focused on the perioperative management of surgical patients, postoperative outcomes of cardiac patients, as well as medical education. His work on predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation, and the risks and benefits of perioperative Beta blocker and Statin use, has been presented at national meetings, and has led to multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals. His current focus is on the utility of perioperative transfusions in surgical patients.