Laith Mukdad has worked on a project examining the efficacy of screen-based simulation in assessing medical student knowledge of shock. Using programming tools, CORE Lab has developed a screen-based simulator, integrating fundamental hemodynamic parameters and electrocardiography to mimic the data-rich environment of the ICU. Laith then used this simulator as a teaching tool in a randomized trial with 56 second-year UCLA medical students, presenting them six patient-based scenarios, consisting of different forms of shock. This trial demonstrated the superiority of the simulator to conventional didactics in assessing clinical competency. Today, he aims to implement larger studies to further evaluate the simulator's efficacy as an assessment tool at different levels of training.
Rustin Kashani is researching clinical parameters that may predict post-operative atrial fibrillation. He is also investigating the utility of surface EKGs in determining freedom from atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.
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. With an increase in ECMO utilization worldwide and the need for a cost efficient healthcare system, Eric Pillado's present study aims to evaluate patient outcomes and hospital costs at UCLA Health.
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.
Son Nguyen is currently looking at potential risk factors that may predict post-operative dysphagia. He hopes to find potential intervention to prevent post-operative dysphagia. He is also currently working with the transcranial doppler machine to show that internal carotid artery clamping during pivotal times during cardiac surgery can help reduce the emboli traveling to the patient's brain.
Adeel Ashfaq is currently evaluating ARI data from post-operative patient EKGs to determine its efficacy as a predictor for atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Additionally, he is analyzing ARI data from pig experiments to elucidate how ARIs may change under different experimental manipulations.
Ryan Ou is researching myocardial protection offered by different cardioplegia methods and clinical outcomes such as atrial fibrillation rates. He is also looking at septal dyskinesia and relation to operative approach.
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.
Sohail Sareh: 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.
