Research

Emory Healthcare - Advancing the Possibilities

Home

Medical Services

	Anesthesiology

	What to expect

	Our Locations

	Physicians

	Research

	Events

Drs. Jerrold H. Levy and Kenichi Tanaka are currently investigating a number of pharmacologic agents for use during and/or after cardiac surgery.

One study is investigating the use of clevidipine, a novel ultrashort dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker in treating postoperative hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Increased blood pressure during and after cardiac surgery places a greater demand on the heart and can put the patient at risk. Clevidipine is a new drug that differs from existing anti-hypertensive medications in that it has very short times of onset and offset, allowing anesthesiologists to more easily manage blook pressure in acute care situations. This study, which is sponsored by The Medicines Company, will enroll approximately 15 - 20 patients at Emory out of a total of 100 patients in multiple centers nationwide.

Since 2003, we have also been evaluating the effects of Angiomax (bivalirudin) as an anticoagulant in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia/heparin-induced thrombocytopenia thrombotic syndrome (HIT/HITTS) who are undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery done either on- or off-pump. Heparin can produce life threatening immunologic complications in certain patients who have HIT, and there is a growing need for alternatives to heparin, because other potential alternatives are not well suited in cardiac surgery. We are evaluating the use of Angiomax is a safe and effective alternative for use during bypass graft surgery in HIT/HITTS patients. This study is sponsored by The Medicines Company.

SCIOS, Inc. is funding a study examining the use of Natrecor (nesiritide-beta natriuretic peptide) during surgery in patients with congestive heart failure who are undergoing CABG surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Nesiritide is biotech recombinant molecule of a critical endogenous protein and has been shown to decrease lung pressures and increase coronary blood flow when used to treat decompensated heart failure. By administering this drug to patients during surgery, Dr. Levy seeks to demonstrate the drug's impact on patient recovery after surgery, specifically in patients with impaired ventricular function, and potential renal dysfunction.

Dr. Levy has recently been given a grant by Proctor & Gamble to investigate the use of Pexelizumab in patients undergoing CABG surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Use of the heart-lung machine during cardiopulmonary bypass elicits an inflammatory response in the body, which is mediated by the complement system and may lead to serious adverse cardiac outcomes, like death and myocardial infarction (MI). Pexelizumab is a monoclonal antibody that acts as a complement inhibitor. By administering this drug to patients during bypass surgery, Dr. Levy hopes to prove that complement inhibition reduces or inhibits the body's inflammatory response and subsequent occurrence of mortality and MI in patients after surgery.

The clinical studies are also supported with laboratory research investigations of novel compounds and molecules that may one day be administered to improve outcomes in high-risk patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing both cardiac and noncardiac surgery.

More Information

This Web site is provided as a courtesy to those interested in Emory Healthcare and does not constitute medical advice and does not create any physician/patient relationship. Also, Emory Healthcare does not endorse or recommend any specific commercial product or service. This Web site is provided solely for personal and private use of individuals accessing this information, and no part of it may be used for any other purpose.