Frederic (Josh) Billings

High or low oxygen levels are safe during heart surgery: study

Two hundred study participants were assessed for oxidative stress, acute kidney injury, delirium, myocardial injury and atrial fibrillation.

The study team included, from left, David McIlroy, MD, Matthew Shotwell, PhD, Cassandra Hennessy, MS, and Frederic (Josh) Billings IV, MD. (photo by Donn Jones)

Study links excess oxygen during anesthesia to risk of organ injury

A Vanderbilt study found that higher levels of excess oxygen given to patients under general anesthesia add risk of injury to the kidneys, lungs and heart.

Damage, disruption, delirium

New findings suggest that treatments that decrease oxidative damage might help with postoperative delirium that occurs in up to 30% of cardiac surgery patients.

VUMC study finds statins do not ease kidney injury following cardiac surgery