Research Interests

Apoptosis-related mitochondrial dysfunction after neonatal cardiac surgery: The neonatal heart is uniquely vulnerable to induction of apoptosis after cardioplegic arrest. Although completed apoptosis is a relatively rare event, we have demonstrated that upstream apoptotic signaling mechanisms are diffusely activated, and result in alterations in mitochondrial structure and function which are correlated with deficits in global myocardial performance. The lab focuses on the crossroads between apoptosis signaling and post-ischemic stunning in a clinically relevant model of neonatal cardioplegic arrest.

Remote ischemic preconditioning: The lab is a member of the LeDuq-Funded Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Transatlantic Network; which is studying the mechanisms and clinical feasibility of translating remote ischemic preconditioning from the bench to the bedside. Specific participation involves evaluation of the mitochondrial response to factors which confer myocardial protection through remote ischemic preconditioning.

Congenital Heart Surgeons Society Data Center: The Congenital Heart Surgeons Society Data Center is housed at The Hospital for Sick Children and represents congenital heart surgery programs from nearly every major academic centre in North America. The Data Center has followed cohorts for over twenty years and maintains follow up on thousands of patients on an annual basis. In addition, the Data Center directs the education of the Kirklin/Asburn Fellowship. The Data Center has produced over twenty manuscripts which represent the specialty as a whole and are regularly presented at international meetings.

Achievements

2011 - Member, Board of Directors, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
2011 - Managing Director - Congenital Heart Surgeons Society Data Center
2009 - Chair, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Toronto
2007 - Editorial Board, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
2005-2007 -Chair, Congenital Heart Surgeons Society Research Committee

Publications

Hickey EJ, Alghamdi AA, Elmi M, Al-Najashi KS, Van Arsdell GS, Caldarone CA, Coles J, Williams WG. Systemic arteriovenous fistulae for end-stage cyanosis after cavopulmonary connection: a useful bridge to transplantation. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010 Jan;139(1):128-134.

Hickey EJ, Yeh T jr, Jacobs JP, Caldarone CA, Tchervenkov CI, McCrindle BW, Lacour-Gayet F, Pizarro C. Ross and Yasui operations for complex biventricular repair in infants with critical left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. 2010 Feb;37(2):279-88.

Brothers JA, Gaynor JW, Jacobs JP, Caldarone CA, Jegatheeswaran A, Jacobs ML. The registry of anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery of the Congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society. Cardiology in the Young. 2010 Dec;20 Suppl 3:50-8.

Jegatheeswara A, McCrindle BW, Blackstone EH, Jacobs ML, Lofland GK, Austin EH, Yeh T, Morell V, Jacobs JP, Jonas RA, Cai S, Rejeswaran J, Ricci M, Wiliams WG, Caldarone CA, DeCampli WM. Persistent risk of subsequent procedures and mortality in patients after interrupted aortic arch repair: a Congenital Heart Sugeons’ Society study. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010 Nov;140(5):1059-75.

Karamlou T, McCrindle BW, Blackstone EH, Cai S, Jonas RA, Bradley SM, Ashburn DA, Caldarone CA, Williams WG. Lesion-specific outcomes in neonates undergoing congenital heart surgery are related predominantly to patient and management factors rather than institution or surgeon experience: A congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society Study. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010 Mar;139(3):569-577.

Karamlou T, Bernasconi A, Jaeggi E, Alhabshan F, Williams W, Van Arsdell G, Coles J, Caldarone CA. Factors associated with arch reintervention and growth of the aortic arch following coarctation repair in neonates weighing less than 2.5 Kg. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 137(5):1163-7.

Jegatheeswaran A, Pizarro C, Caldarone CA, Cohen MS, Baffa JM, Gremmels DB, Mertens L, Morell VO, Williams WG, Blackstone EH, McCrindle BW, Overman DM. Echocardiographic definition and surgical decision making in unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect: a Congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society study. Circulation. 2010 Sept;14:122(11 Suppl): S209-15.

Stottrup NB, Lofgren B, Birkler RD, Nielse JM, Wang L, Caldarone CA, Kristiansen SB, Contractor H, Johannsen M, Botker HE, Nielsen TT. Inhibition of the malate-aspartate shuttle by pre-ischaemic aminooxyacetate loading of the heart induces cardioprotection. Cardiovascular Research. 2010 Nov;88(2):257-66.

Stottrup NB, Lofgren B, Brister RD, Nieldson JM, Wang L., Caldarone CA, Kristiansen SB, Contractor H, Johannsen M, Botker HE, Nielsen TT. Inhibition of the malate-aspartate shuttle by preischaemic aminooxyacetate loading of the heart induces cardioprotection. Journal of Cardiovascular Research. 2010 Jun15.

Hickey EJ, Alghamdi AA, Elmi M, Al-Najashi KS, Van Arsdell GS, Caldarone CA, Coles J, Williams WG. Systemic arteriovenous fistulae for end-stage cyanosis after cavopulmonary connection: A useful bridge to transplantation. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2009.

Karamlou T, Bernasconi A, Jaeggi E, Alhabshan F, Williams WG, Van Arsdell GS, Coles JG, Caldarone CA. Factors associated with arch reintervention and growth of the aortic arch after coarctation repair in neonates weighing less than 2. 5 kg. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2009;137:pp1163-7.

Karamlou T, McCrindle BW, Blackstone EH, Cai S, Jonas RA, Bradley SM, Ashburn DA, Caldarone CA, Williams WG. Lesion-specific outcomes in neonates undergoing congenital heart surgery are related predominantly to patient and management factors rather than institution or surgeon experience: A Congenital Heart Surgeons Society Study. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2009.