Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Division

Patient Care Information

The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology is comprised of faculty members whose clinical practice focuses on patients undergoing cardiac and thoracic procedures in the operating room and catheterization laboratory. Our continued mission is to offer safe, uncompromising, elite-level care for patients undergoing these procedures, while providing the highest quality educational environment to our residents and medical students.

Division Members


Jeremy Poppers, MD, PhD, FASE
Chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
           


  • Derek Atkinson, MD joined our team in 2018 after completing a Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at Columbia University.
  • Adrian Fischl, MD joined our team in 2019 after completing a Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at Penn State University.
  • Igor Izrailtyan, MD is the director of intraoperative TEE and is leading a quality improvement initiative for our TEE program.
  • Jeremy Poppers, MD, PhD, FASE is Chief of the division. He has been recognized for his teaching in cardiac anesthesiology and TEE.
  • Bharathi Scott, MD was the Founding Chief of the Division.
  • Eric Zabirowicz, MD is the Section Chief of TEE/EP. He has a particular interest in mechanical circulatory support for both acute and chronic heart failure.
Residency Training

During their cardiothoracic rotation, residents are exposed to a wide variety of cardiac and major aortic cases, including on- and off-pump coronary revascularization surgery, valve repair and replacement, aortic aneurysm and dissection repair. In addition, residents will gain experience in caring for patients with advanced heart failure who require placement of mechanical assist devices such as intra-aortic balloon pumps, ventricular assist devices (VADs) and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Residents will also gain familiarity with patients undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs) and a multitude of thoracic surgical cases, including pulmonary and esophageal resections.

Residents rotate through the cardiothoracic division for a month-long block starting in the middle of their CA1 year. Additional weeks on the service assigned during their CA-2 and CA-3 years.  During their rotation, residents will become proficient in the placement of arterial, central venous and pulmonary artery catheters, double lumen endotracheal tubes and bronchial blockers. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) experience will be acquired intraoperatively as well.

In addition to a diverse clinical experience, the cardiothoracic rotation offers a structured didactic program, comprised of a series of faculty lectures. Our faculty are genuinely excited to teach our residents, as well as serve as mentors for residents who wish to pursue academic projects, ranging from clinical research to challenging case reports, during the course of their rotation and residency; our residents have traditionally presented abstracts and complex cases at regional and national meetings.


Recent Division Activity


Resident Dr. Victoria Nguyen and Dr. Eric Zabirowicz

Resident Dr. Paul Kozlowski presenting his Medically Challenging Case at the ASA meeting 2021

Resident Dr. Sophia Jacob presenting at the 2023 ASA meeting

Resident Dr. Christopher Seiter presenting a Medically Challenging Case the ASA meeting 2021

Dr. Bharati Scott was honored and recognized as "A Woman of Distinction" by Hon. Keith Brown, the New York State Assemblyman from the 12th district. The award was given to her for her outstanding work and contribution to the community in the health care category.

Recent Publications
Resident authors denoted by bold type
  • Parikh PB, Bloom MW, Pyo R, Patel N, Scott B, Stergiopoulos K, Tannous H. TAVR in a 65-Year-Old Man With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve With Extremely Large Annulus and Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction. J Invasive Cardiol. 2020 Jul;32(7):E199.
  • Izrailtyan I, Poppers J, Kowal R, Zabirowicz E, Nie L, Gan TJ, Bennett-Guerrero E. Comprehensive Quality Improvement Program for Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: Development, Implementation, and Initial Experience. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020 Aug 7.
  • Parikh PB, Romeiser JL, Dhautel B, Mitchell D, Holecek W 3rd, Bilfinger T, Poppers J, Bennett-Guerrero E. Predictors and impact of low diastolic blood pressure and widened pulse pressure following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Cardiovasc Revasc Med. 2021 Oct 28.
  • Shuaib K, Scorsese G, Seiter C, Zabirowicz E, Poppers J. Diagnosis and Management of a Unique Iatrogenic Biatrial Gerbode Defect. Case Rep Anesthesiol. 2022 Jul 18.
  • Scorsese G, Hake A, Christophides A, Poppers J, Zabirowicz E. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022 Oct 7.
  • Atkinson DJ, Romeiser JL, Almasry IO, Tannous HJ, Parikh PB, Bennett-Guerrero E. Randomized controlled trial of liberal vs. standard fasting instructions in percutaneous cardiac procedures. Perioper Med (Lond). 2023 Aug 8;12(1):44.
Recent Presentations
  • Shah R, Katz S, Atkinson D. Severe Post-induction Bronchospasm in a Patient with Atypical Carcinoid Tumor. ASA 2020
  • Parsey D, Shuaib K, Watson E, Schwartz J, Kowal RA, Poppers JS. Diagnosis and Management of Unique Gerbode Defect Variation Consisting of a Bi-atrial Regurgitant Jet At the Base of the Inter-atrial Septum Originating From the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract. ASA 2020
  • Alam S, Tenure RS, Poppers JS. LA Thrombus Formation on An Amplatzer Occluder Device in a Patient with Factor V Leiden on Dabigatran. ASA 2020
  • Shuaib K, Angelo T, Poppers J, Factor M. Anesthetic Considerations in a Parturient with Complex Cardiac History and Pulmonary Hypertension. PGA 2020
  • Kozlowski P, Christophides AH, Izrailtyan I. To Sedate Or Intubate? A Case Report Highlighting The Anesthetic Management Of Cardiac Tamponade. ASA 2021
  • Mathew A, Christophides AH, Balaguer JM, Izrailtyan I. Bilateral Abnormal Ultrasound Allen Test: A Management Dilemma. ASA 2021
  • Xiao A, Tai J, Christophides A, Gavalas M, Price L, Sun E, Izrailtyan I. Do No Harm: Intraoperative Management Of An Unstable Patient Undergoing Multiple Procedures. ASA 2021
  • Scorsese G, Poppers J. Native Valve Infective Endocarditis Causing Intraoperative Acute Limb Ischemia. ASA 2021
  • Seiter C, Kim B, Zabirowicz E, Poppers J. Anesthetic Considerations And Alternatives For A Patient With Severe Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Presenting For Orthopedic Surgery. ASA 2021
  • Mathew A, Scott BH. Nutcracker Syndrome: A Case Report. ASA 2021
  • Mena S, Poppers J, Zabirowicz E. Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation After Tricuspid Valve Replacement. PGA 2021
  • Kang R, Cuenca J, Landau D, Schulsinger D, Izrailtyan I. Anesthetic Management of a Patient with an Infected Aortic Graft. ASA 2022
  • Cuenca J, McLarty A, IIzrailtyan I. Mechanical Circulatory Support for High-risk Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. ASA 2022
  • Scorsese G, Hake A, Balaguer J, Izrailtyan I. Anesthetic Management and Considerations in Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis. ASA 2022
  • Shafai A, Williams R, Dhamija A, Izrailtyan I. Intercostal Cryoablation for Post-Thoracotomy Pain. ASA 2022
  • Zhu M, Dhamija A, Sasson A, Izrailtyan I. Successful Intubation of Patient with Obstructive Squamous Cell Carcinoma with the Assistance of an Airway Exchange Catheter. ASA 2022
  • Cuenca J, Scorsese GF, Poppers JS. Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Complicated by Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage with Mixed Hemorrhagic, Cardiogenic and Septic Shock. ASA 2022
  • Scorsese G, Rakhamimova E, Poppers JS. Anesthetic Management and Considerations for Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection in a Jehovah's Witness. ASA 2022
  • Jacob S, Bell J, Pyo R, Izrailtyan I. TandemHeart for High Risk PCI with LV Thrombus. ASA 2023
  • Chen S, Balaguer J, Izrailtyan I, Mattimore D. A Case of Suspected Left Ventricular Wall Perforation after Intraoperative IMPELLA® Insertion. PGA 2023