Welcome to the Department of Anesthesiology
The Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology strives to provide exemplary patient care, advance standards through development of innovative applications of processes and technology, and pursue research that defines novel therapies in a dynamic academic environment.
Patient Care
Providing cutting-edge, interdisciplinary and compassionate care of the highest quality
learn moreWelcome From the Chair
Our Department focuses on advancing the practice of anesthesiology and the science of medicine. This mission – combined with our rich history – informs all that we do.
Since our establishment as an independent Department in 1965, we have experienced dramatic clinical, scientific and academic growth; and throughout the years have consistently been recognized by our peers in the Medical College of Wisconsin and its affiliated hospitals for our leadership and our innovation.
About Us
History and background
MCW's Department of Anesthesiology was established in 1957 as a division of the Department of Surgery. By 1965, Anesthesiology had become an independent department. Since then, the scope of Resident and Fellowship training, research and patient care have continually increased. Approximately 100 Interns, Residents and Fellows are involved in training annually. Both clinical and research faculty pursue clinical and scientific research.
MCW's Anesthesiology Residency Program is the only anesthesiology training program in Southeast Wisconsin. Our residents receive an exclusive opportunity to learn and to participate in patient care at several outstanding, affiliated area hospitals. The broad diversity and sheer number of anesthetic cases allow MCW residents the opportunity to care for a variety of patients and to train in a full range of surgical procedures.
ACGME approved Fellowships are available in Critical Care, Pain Management, Cardiothoracic, Obstetrics and Pediatric Anesthesia; the Department also offers fellowships in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Services and Neurosurgical Anesthesia.
Our Mission
The Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Anesthesiology will:
- Provide exemplary, compassionate patient care through a consistent commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered medicine.
- Advance the standards for delivery of outstanding patient care through the development of innovative application of processes and technology.
- Pursue research that will define novel therapies in a dynamic academic environment.
- Improve the quality of the communities we serve through respect, collaboration, mindful practice, and continuous education.
Contact Us
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Department of Anesthesiology
9200 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 805-8700
(414) 805-6147 (fax)
Already a member of the department?
Cynthia A. Lien, MD
Department Chair

Recent Publications
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(Voulgarelis S, Fathi F, Yu B, Palkovic B, Chatzizacharias NA, Allen KP, Stucke AG.) Pediatr Transplant. 2022 06;26(4):e14230 PMID: 35064720 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85123506404 01/23/2022
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A Rare Complication in a Child Undergoing Resection of a Huge Thoracic Lipoma.
(Meinecke BJ, Clarke WR, Pagel PS.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022 05;36(5):1498-1499 PMID: 34419360 08/23/2021
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Contribution of the caudal medullary raphe to opioid induced respiratory depression.
(Palkovic B, Cook-Snyder D, Callison JJ, Langer TM 3rd, Nugent R, Stuth EAE, Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2022 05;299:103855 PMID: 35124284 PMCID: PMC8897277 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85124754852 02/07/2022
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Prediction of Naming Outcome With FMRI Language Lateralization in Left Temporal Epilepsy Surgery.
(Gross WL, Helfand A, Swanson SJ, Conant LL, Humphries C, Raghavan M, Mueller WM, Busch RM, Allen L, Anderson CT, Carlson CE, Lowe MJ, Langfitt JT, Tivarus ME, Drane DL, Loring DW, Jacobs M, Morgan VL, Allendorfer JB, Szaflarski JP, Bonilha L, Bookheimer S, Grabowski T, Vannest J, Binder JR, FMRI in Anterior Temporal Epilepsy Surgery (FATES) study.) Neurology. 2022 Apr 11 PMID: 35410903 04/13/2022
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(Backes ER, Afonso NS, Guffey D, Tweddell JS, Tabbutt S, Rudd NA, O'Harrow G, Molossi S, Hoffman GM, Hill G, Heinle JS, Bhat P, Anderson JB, Ghanayem NS.) J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Apr 02 PMID: 35599210 05/23/2022
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(Ellinas EH, Ark TK, Kaljo K, Quinn KG, Krier CR, Farkas AH.) J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2022 04;31(4):487-494 PMID: 34935469 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85129178123 12/23/2021
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Implementing Systematic Culture Change to Improve Diversity in Graduate Medical Education.
(Ellinas H, Trimm F, Kountz D, Bienstock J.) J Grad Med Educ. 2022 04;14(2):235-236 PMID: 35463169 PMCID: PMC9017256 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85128801618 04/26/2022
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(Zdanovec A, Hang D, Pagryzinski AR, Zundel MT, Tawil JN, Pagel PS.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022 Apr 01 PMID: 35490058 PMCID: PMC8970624 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85129814280 05/01/2022
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(Tanem JM, Scott JP.) Crit Care Clin. 2022 Apr;38(2):287-299 PMID: 35369948 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85127320037 04/05/2022
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Saddle block anesthetic technique for benign outpatient anorectal surgery.
(Peterson KJ, Dyrud P, Johnson C, Blank JJ, Eastwood DC, Butterfield GE, Stekiel TA, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ.) Surgery. 2022 03;171(3):615-620 PMID: 34887088 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85120816955 12/11/2021
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(Dorantes RP, Boettcher BT, Woehlck HJ.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022 Feb 11 PMID: 35260323 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85125722549 03/10/2022
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Escape the OR: A novel teaching strategy to promote interprofessional learning and teamwork.
(Borck J, Meyer D, Gettrust L, Novalija J.) Nurs Manage. 2022 02 01;53(2):28-35 PMID: 35105843 02/03/2022
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Challenges and Potential in Targeted Muscle Reinnervation in Pediatric Amputees.
(Vial B, Lieb M, Pysick H, Hettinger P, Rusy L, Hoben G.) Pediatrics. 2022 01 01;149(1) PMID: 34966922 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85123968552 12/31/2021
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Standardized Training for Physicians Practicing Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care.
(Tabbutt S, Krawczeski C, McBride M, Amirnovin R, Owens G, Smith A, Wolf M, Rhodes L, Hehir D, Asija R, Teele SA, Ghanayem N, Zyblewski S, Thiagarajan R, Yeh J, Shin AY, Schwartz SM, Schuette J, Scahill C, Roth SJ, Hoffman TM, Cooper DS, Byrnes J, Bergstrom C, Vesel T, Scott JP, Rossi A, Kwiatkowski D, DiPietro LM, Connor C, Chen J, Charpie J, Bochkoris M, Affolter J, Bronicki RA.) Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2022 01 01;23(1):60-64 PMID: 34554132 09/24/2021
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(Goel V, Kaizer A, Patwardhan AM, Ibrahim M, DeSimone DC, Sivanesan E, Shankar H.) Neuromodulation. 2021 Dec 18 PMID: 35088754 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85124847201 01/29/2022
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Spinal Cord Stimulation for Neurogenic Claudication Associated with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.
(Awad AJ, Jex B, Kirchen G, Peterson S, Endrizzi SA, Pahapill PA.) Pain Physician. 2021 12;24(8):E1247-E1253 PMID: 34793651 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85121993906 11/19/2021
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(Lele AV, Takala RSK, Athiraman U, Schloemerkemper N, Gollapudy S, Vagnerova K, Vincent A, Roberts KE, Wahlster S, Vavilala MS.) J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2021 Oct 11 PMID: 34881561 12/10/2021
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Bleeding After LVAD Implant: If Things Do Not Add Up, Take a Look!
(Park SY, Plambeck C, Joyce LD, Joyce DL.) Innovations (Phila). 2021 Sep-Oct;16(5):488-490 PMID: 34605310 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85116323530 10/05/2021
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(Rusy DA, Honkanen A, Landrigan-Ossar MF, Chatterjee D, Schwartz LI, Lalwani K, Dollar JR, Clark R, Diaz CD, Deutsch N, Warner DO, Soriano SG.) Anesth Analg. 2021 09 01;133(3):562-568 PMID: 33780391 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85113171919 03/30/2021
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(Gowda V, Ehrenfeld JM.) J Med Syst. 2021 08 28;45(10):89 PMID: 34453616 PMCID: PMC8397846 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85113612375 08/29/2021
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(Kim J, Zimmerman MA, Shin WY, Boettcher BT, Lee JS, Park JI, Ali M, Yang M, Mishra J, Hagen CE, McGraw JE, Mathison A, Woehlck HJ, Lomberk G, Camara AKS, Urrutia RA, Stowe DF, Hong JC.) Ann Surg. 2021 Aug 13 PMID: 34387201 PMCID: PMC8840998 08/14/2021
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Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation with Right Ventricular Assist Device for COVID-19 ARDS.
(Cain MT, Smith NJ, Barash M, Simpson P, Durham LA 3rd, Makker H, Roberts C, Falcucci O, Wang D, Walker R, Ahmed G, Brown SA, Nanchal RS, Joyce DL.) J Surg Res. 2021 08;264:81-89 PMID: 33789179 PMCID: PMC7969863 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85103400526 04/01/2021
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(Bence CM, Jarzembowski JA, Belter L, Berens RJ, Henrickson KJ, Hoffman GM, Jackson F, Kehl KS, Oldham KT, Scott JP, Tassone JC, Woger N, Yale E, Gourlay DM.) Pediatr Surg Int. 2021 Jul;37(7):871-880 PMID: 33715083 PMCID: PMC7955904 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85102600575 03/15/2021
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Unique Complications Associated With the Subclavian Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump.
(Daubenspeck D, González LS, Gerlach RM, Chaney MA.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021 Jul;35(7):2212-2222 PMID: 33485757 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85099660404 01/25/2021
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Factors affecting satisfaction of pediatric posterior spinal fusion patients.
(Michlig JR, Czarnecki M, Simpson P, Zhang L, Weisman S, Hainsworth K.) Stud Health Technol Inform. 2021 06 28;280:318 PMID: 34190136 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85110153433 07/01/2021
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(Grivoyannis AD, Tangel V, Lien CA.) J Clin Monit Comput. 2021 Jun 22 PMID: 34156581 06/23/2021
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(O'Rourke MJ, Keshock MC, Boxhorn CE, Correll DJ, O'Glasser AY, Gazelka HM, Urman RD, Mauck K.) Mayo Clin Proc. 2021 05;96(5):1325-1341 PMID: 33618850 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85101113964 02/24/2021
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Sweat the small stuff: The human microvasculature and heart disease.
(Katunaric B, Cohen KE, Beyer AM, Gutterman DD, Freed JK.) Microcirculation. 2021 04;28(3):e12658 PMID: 32939881 PMCID: PMC7960576 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85091684344 09/18/2020
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(Carson JW, Treggiari MM, Mauer KM, Kirsch JR.) J Altern Complement Med. 2021 Apr;27(4):349-351 PMID: 33544018 02/06/2021
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Use of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Pediatric Peripheral Nerve Blocks after Traumatic Amputation.
(Halenda GM, Voulgarelis S.) Case Rep Anesthesiol. 2021;2021:8092204 PMID: 34434583 PMCID: PMC8382517 08/27/2021
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(Feng Y, Li K, Roth E, Chao D, Mecca CM, Hogan QH, Pawela C, Kwok WM, Camara AKS, Pan B.) Front Cell Neurosci. 2021;15:689334 PMID: 34447298 PMCID: PMC8383341 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85113358817 08/28/2021
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Regional Anesthesia, Cost, Operating Room and Personnel Management
(Laur JJ, Dexter F.) Textbook of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management. 04/20/2021
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Pain Management in Neurosurgery
(Yifan Xu MD, PhD, Kimberly M. Mauer MD, Amit Singh DO.) Anesthesiology Clinics. Anesthesiology Clin 39 (2021) 179–194 03/01/2021
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(Ebert TJ, Dugan S, Barta L, Gordon B, Nguyen-Ho C, Pagel PS.) WMJ. 2020 Dec;119(4):248-252 PMID: 33428834 01/12/2021
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Multi-Level Regulation of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression.
(Palkovic B, Marchenko V, Zuperku EJ, Stuth EAE, Stucke AG.) Physiology (Bethesda). 2020 11 01;35(6):391-404 PMID: 33052772 PMCID: PMC7864237 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85092886511 10/15/2020
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(Russell MD, Pinkerton C, Sherman KA, Ebert TJ, Pagel PS.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020 Aug;34(8):2103-2110 PMID: 32127274 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85080133176 03/05/2020
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(Hainsworth KR, Simpson PM, Ali O, Varadarajan J, Rusy L, Weisman SJ.) Children (Basel). 2020 Jun 02;7(6) PMID: 32498300 PMCID: PMC7346135 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85116225388 06/06/2020
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E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury-Lessons Learned: A Case Series.
(Helm C, Labovsky K, Thakrar PD, Diaz CD.) A A Pract. 2020 Jun;14(8):e01242 PMID: 32643902 PMCID: PMC7323836 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85088067425 07/10/2020
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(Woehlck HJ, Zundel MT.) Anesth Analg. 2020 06;130(6):e179 PMID: 32243293 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85085197824 04/04/2020
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(Pagel PS, Millen HT, Peterson TS, Gandhi SD, Lohr NL, Almassi GH.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020 Apr;34(4):1105-1110 PMID: 31558397 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85072389550 09/29/2019
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Malignant Hyperthermia Update.
(Ellinas H, Albrecht MA.) Anesthesiol Clin. 2020 Mar;38(1):165-181 PMID: 32008650 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85078799124 02/06/2020
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Anesthesia for patients with COPD
(Rachel Budithi M.DrnSylvia Dolinski M.D.) UpToDate. 12/31/2020
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Primary Care Management rnChapter 15: Cervical Spine
(Charles De Mesa, Omar Dyara.) . 02/03/2020
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(Hang D, Tawil JN, Fierro MA.) Anesthesiology. 2020 01;132(1):156 PMID: 31834871 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85076473541 12/14/2019
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(Kugler NW, Carver TW, Juul J, Peppard WJ, Boyle K, Drescher KM, Szabo A, Rein L, Somberg LB, Paul JS.) J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2019 11;87(5):1181-1188 PMID: 31425468 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85074184716 08/20/2019
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Pediatric Ambulatory Anesthesia Challenges.
(Butz SF.) Anesthesiol Clin. 2019 Jun;37(2):289-300 PMID: 31047130 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85062911828 05/03/2019
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Vaginal Diazepam for Nonrelaxing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: The Pharmacokinetic Profile.
(Larish AM, Dickson RR, Kudgus RA, McGovern RM, Reid JM, Hooten WM, Nicholson WT, Vaughan LE, Burnett TL, Laughlin-Tommaso SK, Faubion SS, Green IC.) J Sex Med. 2019 Jun;16(6):763-766 PMID: 31010782 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85064434763 04/24/2019
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(Gluncic V, Lukić A, Hanko E, Lynch J.) A A Pract. 2019 May 15;12(10):369-371 PMID: 30543541 12/14/2018
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(Wasakorn Kittipongdaja, Christopher Fadumiye.) . 04/19/2019
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You Are Only as Frail as Your Arteries: Prehabilitation of Elderly Surgical Patients
(Durand MJ, Beckert AK, Peterson CY, Ludwig KA, Ridolfi TJ, Lauer KK, Freed JK.) Current Anesthesiology Reports. 1 December 2019;9(4):380-386 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85079022988 12/01/2019
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(Zimmerman MA, Selim M, Kim J, Saeian K, Cinquegrani MP, Connolly L, Woehlck HJ, Lauer KK, Hong JC.) Transplant Proc. 2018 Dec;50(10):3544-3548 PMID: 30577234 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85058559732 12/24/2018
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(Pagel PS, Dye L 3rd, Hill GED, Vega JL, Tawil JN, De Vry DJ, Chandrashekarappa K, Iqbal Z, Boettcher BT, Freed JK.) J Vis Exp. 2018 11 28(141) PMID: 30582607 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85058138415 12/26/2018
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(Kim J, Fons RA, Scott JP, Eriksen CM, Lerret SM, Browning MB, Telega GW, Vitola BE, Hoffman GM, North PE, Vo NN, Zimmerman MA, Hong JC.) Transplant Proc. 2018 Nov;50(9):2630-2635 PMID: 30401364 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85055872814 11/08/2018
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(Grant TR, Ellinas EH, Kula AO, Muravyeva MY.) Int J Obstet Anesth. 2018 May;34:56-66 PMID: 29523485 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85042868891 03/11/2018
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An Unanticipated Airway Problem in a Man Undergoing Femoral-Popliteal Bypass.
(Kim SH, Vitek JC, Kryniak MP, Pagel PS.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2017 12;31(6):2312-2314 PMID: 28389185 04/09/2017
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(Tawil JN, Khatib D, Jakobsons JJ, Woehlck HJ.) Br J Anaesth. 2017 04 01;118(4):641 PMID: 28403423 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85019229436 04/14/2017
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Using high-fidelity simulation for critical event training.
(Willie C, Chen F, Joyner BL, Blasius K.) Med Educ. 2016 Nov;50(11):1161-1162 PMID: 27762015 10/21/2016
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(Patel S, Weierstahl KL, Shah S, Fidkowski CW.) A A Case Rep. 2016 Oct 01;7(7):146-9 PMID: 27513968 08/16/2016
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A Pulmonary Venous Blood Flow Problem During Left Upper Lobectomy.
(Pagel PS, Sethi P, Boettcher BT, Dolinski SY.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2016 Aug;30(4):1156-8 PMID: 27521974 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84991577862 08/16/2016
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Why the new severe aortic insufficiency after mitral and tricuspid valve repair?
(Pagel PS, Cummings CE, Schroeder AR, De Vry DJ, Linn KA.) J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2014 Dec;28(6):1704-6 PMID: 25027099 07/17/2014
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(Limberg JK, Harrell JW, Johansson RE, Eldridge MW, Proctor LT, Sebranek JJ, Schrage WG.) Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Oct 15;305(8):H1230-7 PMID: 23934859 PMCID: PMC3798789 08/13/2013
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Case report: giant cardiac malignancy in a nine-year-old female.
(Scott JP, Troshynski TJ, Clarke WR, Woods RK, Lal DR, Berens RJ, Tower RL.) Can J Anaesth. 2012 Nov;59(11):1048-51 PMID: 22936572 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84871224718 09/01/2012
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(Bailey M, Kirchen G, Bonaventura B, Rosborough K, Abdel-Rasoul M, Dzwonczyk R.) J Clin Monit Comput. 2012 Jun;26(3):157-61 PMID: 22389138 03/06/2012
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Simulation of a patient with severe aortic stenosis undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.
(Novalija J, Diaz CD, Drexler CM.) Simul Healthc. 2011 Aug;6(4):250-4 PMID: 21826042 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-80051801135 08/10/2011
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Use of thermally softened laryngeal mask airway in a toddler with temporomandibular joint ankylosis.
(Gluncic V, Syed VM, Chun RH, Troshynski TJ, Staudt SR.) Paediatr Anaesth. 2011 Feb;21(2):173-4 PMID: 21210889 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-78651322484 01/08/2011
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Diplopia and ptosis. Diagnosis: Diabetic third nerve palsy.
(Pfeiffer KJ, Ropers SK, Short MW.) Am Fam Physician. 2010 Jul 15;82(2):187-8 PMID: 20642274 07/21/2010
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(Woehlck HJ, Mei D, Dunning MB 3rd, Ruiz F.) Anesthesiology. 2001 Mar;94(3):457-60 PMID: 11374606 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-0035094039 05/26/2001
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Analysis of endoplasmic reticulum trafficking signals by combinatorial screening in mammalian cells.
(Zerangue N, Malan MJ, Fried SR, Dazin PF, Jan YN, Jan LY, Schwappach B.) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Feb 27;98(5):2431-6 PMID: 11226256 PMCID: PMC30155 02/28/2001
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Effect of central CO(2) drive on lung inflation responses of expiratory bulbospinal neurons in dogs.
(Tonkovic-Capin M, Zuperku EJ, Stuth EA, Bajic J, Dogas Z, Hopp FA.) Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000 Nov;279(5):R1606-18 PMID: 11049842 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-0033674077 10/26/2000
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(Addiss DG, Pond RS, Remshak M, Juranek DD, Stokes S, Davis JP.) Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1996 Jun;54(6):549-53 PMID: 8686769 06/01/1996
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(Hickey PR, Retzack SM.) Anesthesiology. 1993 Feb;78(2):372-6 PMID: 8439035 02/01/1993
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Plasma concentrations of midazolam in children following intranasal administration.
(Walbergh EJ, Wills RJ, Eckhert J.) Anesthesiology. 1991 Feb;74(2):233-5 PMID: 1990898 02/01/1991
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Trauma Lecture 4: Initial Assessment of and Management Goals of the Traumatically Injured.
(Greiber K, Bevers K, Kaslow O .) Anesthesia Education Toolbox. https://learn.anesthesiatoolbox.com/products/trauma-lecture-4-initial-assessment-of-and-management-goals-of-the-traumatically-injured 04/11/2021