Laboratory of Mehmet C. Oz, MD
Principal Investigator
Mehmet C. Oz, MD
- University of Pennsylvania, MD 1986
- Internship General Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center 1986-87
- Residency General Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center 1987-91
- Research Fellow, Blakemore Surgical Laboratory, Columbia University 1988-89
- Chief Resident, General Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center 1990-91
- Resident, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center 1991-93
Background for Research focus:
The field of cardiac surgery is constantly changing in response to the evolving nature of heart disease. As scientists and clinicians, we must strive to keep pace with these changes in order to provide the best care for our patients and remain leaders in the field.
The innovations that take place on the clinical wards and in the operating room often stem from ideas and efforts in the research laboratory. There exists a mutual collaboration between clinician and researcher for the progress of medical care.
Technology in cardiac surgery advances at a rapid pace and it is our duty to adapt to these changes as well as contribute to them. Oftentimes, these approaches are improvements on traditional techniques and are adopted to increase efficiency, enhance outcomes, and provide greater patient satisfaction. Other approaches may be completely novel, sometimes developed in response to an evolving disease epidemic or to symptoms of chronic disease. Ultimately, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of cardiac patients through research and to integrate these efforts into the broader community.
Main Focus of the Laboratory:
We believe that heart failure and atrial fibrillation represent two important areas of heart disease that will have significant impact, both epidemiologic and socioeconomic, within the near future. As medical therapies advance, in general, people are living longer and the elderly population is expanding rapidly. Concomitant with that growth is the incidence of age-related heart disease, particularly heart failure. While medical intervention can afford improvement for some, it often achieves very little for others with end-stage heart failure. Surgery offers an approach that seeks to provide a mechanical and physiologic solution, not just a chemical one. In our laboratory, we aim to discover new surgical treatments for heart failure by identifying and understanding its causes and mechanisms. The development of ventricular assist devices (VADs) has improved outcomes for many patients and remains a primary focus of study. Efforts to facilitate myocardial recovery by means of stem cell therapy and novel therapeutic agents while on VAD support are actively being made.
Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac condition afflicting the general population and post-cardiac surgery patients alike. It is also a symptom frequently associated with heart failure. The clinical spectrum of atrial fibrillation is highly variable, ranging from a complete lack of symptoms to discomforting palpitations to thromboembolic phenomena, including strokes. Our research hinges on an understanding of the origin of these aberrant conduction pathways and seeks to eliminate them. We approach this by investigating different signal-generating areas within the heart and by employing a variety of energy sources to ablate these signals.
Current Projects:
- Columbia Randomized Atrial Fibrillation Trial (CRAFT). Evaluation of postoperative conversion to sinus rhythm following MAZE + MVR vs. MVR alone
- Lifewatch. Transtelephonic monitoring of patients' cardiac rhythm following MAZE procedure
- Cardiac Donors with Intracranial Bleed (ICB). Evaluation of clinical outcomes in cardiac transplant patients who received allografts from donors with ICB vs. non-ICB
- Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Transplantation. Assessment of Atrial Fibrillation incidence following bi-caval cardiac transplantation
- Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) and Prostacyclin (iPGI2) Crossover Trial. Prospective study of iNO and iPGI2 on outcomes in cardiac surgery, ARDS, and pulmonary hypertension patients
- Clenbuterol in Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Patients. A novel use of a beta-2 agonist for the improvement of cardiac function and exercise capacity in LVAD patients
- Clenbuterol + Metoprolol in Rat Heart Failure Model. A novel, combinational approach of a beta-2 agonist with a beta-1 blocker in the rat LAD ligation model.
- Cardiac and Tissue Recovery after LVAD. Analysis of echocardographic, electrocardiographic, histologic, serological, and exercise recovery with LVAD support
- Nutritional Assessment and Supplementation in Destination Therapy LVAD Patients. Prospective study evaluating nutritional status and examining role of immune-enhanced nutritional supplement while on LVAD support
- LVADs in Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock (PCCS). Evaluation of outcomes in patients receiving LVADs in postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock setting
- LVADs after Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Cardiogenic Shock (CS). Investigation of role of revascularization in setting of acute MI prior to LVAD implantation
- Glutathione monoethyl ester (GSH Me) Supplementation in Rat Heart Ischemia-Reperfusion Model. Evaluation of GSH Me as an antioxidant means of myocyte cytoprotection in the rat LAD ligation-release model
- Stem Cell Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease
- Role of Myocardin in Vasculogenesis
- Comparison of a Modified Minithoracotomy Approach to Median Sternotomy For Mitral Valve And Atrial Septal Defect Surgery
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Post-Cardiotomy Depression
Recent Publications:
Mancini D, Pinney S, Burkhoff D, LaManca J, Itescu S, Burke E, Edwards N, Oz MC, Marks AR. Use of Rapamycin Slows Progression of Cardiac Transplantation Vasculopathy. Circulation; 108: 48-53, 2003.
Oz MC, Konertz WF, Kleber FX, Mohr FW, Gummert JF, Ostermeyer J, Lass M, Raman J, Acker MA, Smedira N. Global Surgical Experience with the Acorn Cardiac Support Device. J Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 126, 4: 983-991, October 2003.
Morgan JA, Kherani AR, Vigilance DW, Cheema FH, Colletti NJ, Sahar DI, Jan KM Diuguid DL, Nowygrod R, Oz MC, Argenziano M. Off-Pump Right Atrial Thrombectomy for Heperin-Induced Thrombocytopenia with Thrombosis. Ann Thorac Surg; 76: 615-617, 2003
Argenziano M, Oz MC, Kohmoto T, Morgan J, Dimitui J, Mongero L, Beck J, Smith CR. Totally Endoscopic Atrial Septal Defect Repair with robotic Assistance. Circulation 108: 191-194 Sept. 2003
Williams M, Casher J, Joshi N, Hankinson T, Warren M, Oz M, Naka Y, Mancini D. Insertion of a left ventricular assist device in patients without thorough transplant evaluations: A worthwhile risk? J Thoracic Cardio Surgery 126 (2): 436-442, August 2003
Oz MC, Gelijns AC, Miller L, Wang C, Nickens P, Arons R, Aaronson K, Richenbacher W, van Meter C, Nelson K, Weinberg A, Watson J, Rose E, Moskowitz A. Left Ventricular Assist Devices as Permanent Heart Failure Therapy, The Price of Progress. Annals of Surgery 238 (4): 577-585, October 2003.
Morgan JA, Oz MC. Cost-effectiveness of left ventricular assist devices. Expert Rev. Pharmacoeconomics Outcomes Res. 3(4), 427-432, 2003.
Mosca L, Appel LJ, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, Chandra-Strobos N, Fabunmi RP, Grady D, Haan CK, Hayes SN, Judelson DR, Keenan NL, McBride P, Oparil S, Ouyang P, Oz MC, Mendelsohn ME, Pasternak RC, Pinn VW, Robertson RM, Schenck-Gustafsson K, Sila CA, Smith SC, Sopko G, Taylor AL, Walsh BW, Wenger NK, Williams CL. Evidence-Based Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women. Circulation 109: 672-692, 2004.
Oz MC. Emerging Role of Integrative Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease. Cardiology in Review. 12(2): 120-123, March/April 2004.
Morgan JA, John R, Lee BJ, Oz MC, Naka Y. Is Severe Right Ventricular Failure in Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients a Risk Faxtor for Unsuccessful Bridgeing to Transplant and Post-Transplant Mortality. Ann Thorac Surg. 77: 859-863, 2004.
Recent (last 5 years) Surgery Residents (Columbia and outside):
2003-2004
Deon W. Vigilance, MD
Long Island-Jewish Hospital
Phone: (718) 755-3532
e-mail: dv2030@columbia.edu
Nicholas C. Dang, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (917) 318-4364
e-mail: ncd8@columbia.edu
Steve Xydas, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (917) 653-3368
e-mail: sx25@columbia.edu
Timothy P. Martens, MD
Jefferson Medical College
Phone: (917) 570-7666
e-mail: martet01@yahoo.com
Satish Kesavaramanujam, MD
Our Lady of Mercy Hospital
Phone: (917) 447-2730
e-mail: satishpro@yahoo.com
2002-2003
Aftab R. Kherani, MD
Duke University Medical Center
Phone: (919) 949-5241
e-mail: khera001us@yahoo.com
Deon W. Vigilance, MD
Long Island-Jewish Hospital
Phone: (718) 755-3532
e-mail: dv2030@columbia.edu
Jeffrey A. Morgan, MD
Mount Sinai Hospital
Phone: (646) 391-4315
e-mail: jamorganmd@hotmail.com
2001-2002
Aftab R. Kherani, MD
Duke University Medical Center
Phone: (919) 949-5241
e-mail: khera001us@yahoo.com
Mauricio J. Garrido, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
e-mail: mg563@columbia.edu
Paul DiGiorgi, MD
University of Connecticut Health Center
Eugene L. Kukuy, MD
Tulane University
e-mail: ekukuy@hotmail.com
2000-2001
Paul DiGiorgi, MD
University of Connecticut Health Center
Eugene L. Kukuy, MD
Tulane University
e-mail: ekukuy@hotmail.com
Mathew R. Williams, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (212) 305-0423
e-mail: mw365@columbia.edu
David A. D’Alessandro, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (212) 362-4935
e-mail: dad15@columbia.edu
1999-2000
David A. D’Alessandro, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (212) 362-4935
e-mail: dad15@columbia.edu
Mathew R. Williams, MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Phone: (212) 305-0423
e-mail: mw365@columbia.edu
Minoo N. Kavarana, MD
University of Louisville
Phone: (502) 561-2180
e-mail: mkavarana@hotmail.com
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