Division of Cardiovascular Surgery
Rm. 2268, New Halifax Infirmary
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, NS B3H 3A7

Phone: (902) 473-7597
Fax: (902) 473-4448
email: john.sullivan@dal.ca

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Our initial research thrusts in the lab were with myocardial preservation techniques. This initial interest was sparked by our experience in clinical transplantation. We have attempted to develop a perfusion system for donor organs which would allow a prolongation of ischemic times and, therefore, expand the donor pool. Much of our original work was centered around blood perfusion techniques in the preservation of myocardial function in transplant individuals. This led to a wider interest in myocardial preservation techniques in general. We then went on to develop a large animal porcine model which has provided us with an excellent clinical model for myocardial preservation. We have subsequently published our work in this regard. Our most recent publication in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery in its latest issue, deals with perfusion pressure and myocardial preservation.

We have subsequently developed an interest in nitric oxide production in models of ischemic injury to the heart. This has now taken us into a model of intestinal ischemia in the rabbit. Our interest here is to identify markers of gut perfusion which would be clinically relevant long before transmural infarction of the gut and subsequent high mortality rate that this carries in this subgroup of patients. We have produced preliminary data using the nitric oxide rabbit model and, as noted in our publications, have developed a continuous on-line computer program for the monitoring of this. This will continue to be one of our active thrusts in the laboratory. This will be combined with the work of Dr. Imtiaz Ali who is presently in Edmonton working on nitric oxide as a measure of myocardial ischemia as well.

Our most recent thrust is in the region of transmyocardial revascularization using the homium laser. At the present time, we are involved in a clinical trial in this regard and have, to date, done three patients. We will be starting an animal study in the next two weeks and will try to ascertain the exact mechanism of action of transmyocardial revascularization. This will involve the model of denervated dog heart which has been well-established by Dr. Drew Armor’s lab and, hopefully, will lead us to some explanations regarding pathophysiology of transmyocardial revascularization using the laser.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Legare JF, Hirsch GM, Buth KJ, MacDougall C, Sullivan JA. Preoperative prediction of prolonged mechanical ventilation following coronary artery bypass grafting.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001 Nov;20(5):930-6./p>

Ray AA, Buth KJ, Sullivan JA, Johnstone DE, Hirsch GM. Waiting for cardiac surgery: results of a risk-stratified queuing process.
Circulation. 2001 Sep 18;104(12 Suppl 1):I92-8.

Legare JF, Haddad H, Barnes D, Sullivan JA, Buth KJ, Hirsch G. Myocardial scintigraphy correlates poorly with coronary angiography in the screening of transplant arteriosclerosis.
Can J Cardiol. 2001 Aug;17(8):866-72.

Jamieson WR, Lemieux MD, Sullivan JA, Munro IA, Metras J, Cartier PC. Medtronic Intact porcine bioprosthesis experience to twelve years.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2001 May;71(5 Suppl):S278-81.

Thomson DJ, Jamieson WR, Dumesnil JG, Burgess JJ, Peniston CM, Metras J, Sullivan JA, Parrott JC, Maitland A, Cybulsky IJ. Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis: midterm investigational trial results.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2001 May;71(5 Suppl):S269-72.

Thomson DJ, Jamieson WR, Dumesnil JG, Burgess JJ, Peniston CM, Metras J, Sullivan JA, Parrott JC, Maitland A, Cybulsky IJ. Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis: midterm investigational trial results.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2001 May;71(5 Suppl):S269-72.