Kukbin Choi, MD
- Surgical Director, Lung Transplant Program;
Surgical Director, ECMO Program;
Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
Comprehensive Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) Program
Our program is one of the best in the region and recognized nationally for our commitment to excellence in life-support care.
Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), also known as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), provides temporary support for patients with heart failure, lung failure or both.
ECLS runs 24-hours a day, continuously removing carbon dioxide from a patient’s blood and then returning oxygen-rich blood back to the patient. Most patients need treatment for a few days to several weeks. ECLS can offer invaluable time for organs to recover.
Patients: Learn more about ECMO therapy
ECMO patient referral
Our team is available for consultations regarding extracorporeal support as well as transfer and management of patients already on ECMO. We provide 24-hour access to an ECMO specialist.
- General Questions: 614-293-ECMO
- Non-Emergent Transfers: 614-293-4444
- Life and Limb Emergencies: 614-366-8111
ECMO transport
We’ve partnered with MedFlight to transport patients undergoing ECMO therapy at another hospital to our facility — and to do so in safer, more efficient way. Rather than hospitals using their limited resources to manage the transportation, we use our own equipment and medical experts to bring patients to us. Before making the trip, our team can determine any precautions needed and then closely monitor patients along the way.
About our ECLS/ECMO program
Our team recommends ECLS when ventilators or hemodynamic support haven’t significantly helped a patient.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a high-volume ECMO center capable of managing complex end-stage heart and/or lung failure, treating over 100 patients annually with ECMO.
Our skilled ECLS team provides life support to patients under the direction of Ohio State cardiac surgeons and critical care anesthesiologists.
Because we’re part of a top academic health center, our patients have direct access to advanced treatments and care teams of every discipline. This includes access to the most advanced emergency protocols and an expansive team of heart failure and transplant specialists who can provide patients with whatever care they need, including ventricular assist and total artificial heart devices.
We’re also home to central Ohio’s only adult heart and lung transplant program — offering our patients the full spectrum of care.
Mission and vision
Our mission is to provide life-saving extracorporeal intervention for our area’s most critically ill patients. Every day we work to promote and advance these therapies throughout Ohio and the rest of the world.
Education and training
As a top academic health center, we offer comprehensive training opportunities in mechanical support, including ECMO.
Fellowships providing hands-on ECMO experience for physicians training in critical care medicine:
Residencies for extensive education in cannulation, ECMO initiation and ongoing management:
All trainees graduate our programs ready to care for patients supported with ECMO.
Research
Our teams engage in an array of academic research. Please review our publications for past endeavors. Our current and future projects will focus on ECMO simulation, database research and clinical trials.
Publications
- Kopanczyk R, Lisco SJ, Pearl R, Demiralp G, Naik BI, Mazzeffi MA. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Mortality for Patients With Severe COVID-19. ASAIO J. 2024;70(1):62-67. doi:10.1097/MAT.0000000000002072
- de Forcrand C, Cassara CM, Dollerschell JT, Kopanczyk R, Long MT. Refractory Hypoxemia on VV-ECMO: Repetition of a Structured Approach Is Paramount: A Case Report. A A Pract. 2023;17(5):e01677. Published 2023 May 5. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000001677
- Essandoh M, Graul T, Awad H. Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Weaning in Refractory Cardiogenic Shock—Echocardiographic Guidance May Improve Success. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2022 Jan 1;35(1):134-5.
- Kumar N, Dorcius D, Essandoh M. Renal Replacement Therapy and Mortality in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients: The Devil Is in the Details. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2022 Jun 1;36(6):1812-3.
- Cassara CM, Long MT, Dollerschell JT, Chae F, Hall DJ, Demiralp G, Stampfl MJ, Bernardoni B, McCarthy DP, Glazer JM. Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Narrative Review and Establishment of a Sustainable Program. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Dec 9;58(12):1815. doi: 10.3390/medicina58121815. PMID: 36557017; PMCID: PMC9781756.
- Potere B, Boulos R, Awad H, Taylor A, Kneuertz PJ, Cline M, Meyers L, Essandoh M, Henn M, Dalton R. The Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Anesthetic Management of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: Is it Time to Use a Scoring System?. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2022 Jun 1;36(6):1777-87.
- Kopanczyk R, Al-Qudsi OH, Uribe A, Periel L, Fiorda-Diaz J, Abdel-Rasoul M, Kumar N, Bhatt AM. Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2022 Feb 1;36(2):629-31.
- Bhatt AM, Essandoh MK. Introduction to the Special Issue—Cardiothoracic Surgical Critical Care: A Future of Distinction. Medicina. 2022 Dec 3;58(12):1781.
- Whitson BA, Tripathi RS, Papadimos TJ. Who truly benefits from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a call to develop predictive models. ASAIO Journal. 2013 May 1;59(3):200-1.
- Gonçalves BP, Hall M, Jassat W, Balan V, Murthy S, Kartsonaki C, Semple MG, Rojek A, Baruch J, Reyes LF, Dasgupta A, Dunning J, Citarella BW, Pritchard M, Martín-Quiros A, Sili U, Baillie JK, Aryal D, Arabi Y, Rashan A, Angheben A, Caoili J, Carrier FM, Harrison EM, Gómez-Junyent J, Figueiredo-Mello C, Douglas JJ, Mat Nor MB, Chow YP, Wong XC, Bertagnolio S, Thwin SS, Streinu-Cercel A, Salazar L, Rishu A, Rangappa R, Ong DSY, Hashmi M, Carson G, Diaz J, Fowler R, Kraemer MUG, Wils EJ, Horby P, Merson L, Olliaro PL; ISARIC Clinical Characterisation Group. An international observational study to assess the impact of the Omicron variant emergence on the clinical epidemiology of COVID-19 in hospitalised patients. Elife. 2022 Oct 5;11:e80556. doi: 10.7554/eLife.80556. PMID: 36197074; PMCID: PMC9534549.
- Mazzeffi MA, Rao VK, Dodd-O J, Del Rio JM, Hernandez A, Chung M, Bardia A, Bauer RM, Meltzer JS, Satyapriya S, Rector R, Ramsay JG, Gutsche J. Intraoperative Management of Adult Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Expert Consensus Statement From the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists-Part I, Technical Aspects of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Anesth Analg. 2021 Dec 1;133(6):1459-1477. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005738. PMID: 34559089.
- Li Bassi G, Suen JY, Dalton HJ, White N, Shrapnel S, Fanning JP, Liquet B, Hinton S, Vuorinen A, Booth G, Millar JE. An appraisal of respiratory system compliance in mechanically ventilated covid-19 patients. Critical Care. 2021 Dec;25(1):1-22. Link to publication
- Reyes LF, Murthy S, Garcia-Gallo E, Irvine M, Merson L, Martin-Loeches I, Rello J, Taccone FS, Fowler RA, Docherty AB, Kartsonaki C. Clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 registered in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium WHO clinical characterisation protocol: a prospective, multinational, multicentre, observational study. ERJ open research. 2022 Jan 1;8(1). Link
- Hall MD, Baruch J, Carson G, Citarella BW, Dagens A, Dankwa E, Donnelly CA, Dunning J, Escher M, Kartsonaki C, Merson L. Ten months of temporal variation in the clinical journey of hospitalised patients with COVID-19: an observational cohort. Elife. 2021 Nov 23;10:e70970. Link to publication
- Mazzeffi MA, Rao VK, Dodd-O J, Del Rio JM, Hernandez A, Chung M, Bardia A, Bauer RM, Meltzer JS, Satyapriya S, Rector R, Ramsay JG, Gutsche J. Intraoperative Management of Adult Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Expert Consensus Statement From the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists-Part II, Intraoperative Management and Troubleshooting. Anesth Analg. 2021 Dec 1;133(6):1478-1493. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005733. PMID: 34559091.
- Kopanczyk R, Bhatt A, Kumar N, Henson CP. Persistent hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients on ECMO: Keep your eyes on the prize. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2022 Apr 14.
- Kopanczyk R, Al-Qudsi OH, Bhatt AM. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA surgery. 2021 Apr 1;156(4):401-2.
- Kopanczyk R, Kumar N, Iyer MH, Bhatt AM. Right Ventricular Dysfunction in COVID-19 ECMO—A Red Herring or the Real Deal?. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2022 Mar 1;36(3):921-2.
- Kopanczyk R, Al-Qudsi OH, Ganapathi AM, Potere BR, Pagel PS. Superior vena cava syndrome during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19. Perfusion. 2021 Sep;36(6):630-3.
- Hwalek AE, Whitson BA, D'Souza D, Keller BC, Bhandary SP, Ganapathi AM. Postoperative management of iatrogenic membranous tracheobronchial injury following bilateral lung transplant. JTCVS techniques. 2021 Feb 1;5:103-5.
- Roberts SH, Goodwin ML, Bobba CM, Al-Qudsi O, Satyapriya SV, Tripathi RS, Papadimos TJ, Whitson BA. Continuous renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: implications in the COVID-19 era. Perfusion. 2021 Sep 8:02676591211042561.
- Boudoulas KD, Whitson BA, Keseg DP, Lilly S, Baker C, Attar T, Capers Q, Gumina RJ, Mast DW, Satyapriya SV, Davenport D. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to pulseless ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Journal of Interventional Cardiology. 2020 Jul 17;2020.
- Bhatt A, Kumar N, Hussain N, Iyer MH, Essandoh M. Pulmonary vein velocities: a useful tool for cardiac anesthesiologists in the management of lung transplantation. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2020 Aug 1;34(8):2280-1.
- Tulman DB, Stawicki S, Whitson BA, Gupta SC, Tripathi RS, Firstenberg MS, Hayes D, Xu X, Papadimos TJ. Veno-venous ECMO: a synopsis of nine key potential challenges, considerations, and controversies. BMC anesthesiology. 2014 Dec;14(1):1-1.
- Sun JY, Whitson B, Opat K, Elhassan A, Awad H, Essandoh M. Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Use During Double-Lung Transplantation Complicated by Severe Bilateral Air Leaks: A Novel Strategy. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2019 Dec 1;33(12):3416-7.
- Whitson BA, Tripathi RS, Papadimos TJ. Who truly benefits from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a call to develop predictive models. ASAIO Journal. 2013 May 1;59(3):200-1.
- Carraro EA, Firstenberg MS, Papadimos TJ, Phieffer L, Abel E, Eiferman DS. Definitive femur fracture management while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for trauma related respiratory failure. Mechanical Circulatory Support. 2013 Jan 1;4(1):11826581.
- Tripathi RS, Papadimos TJ. ECMO and endogenous carboxyhemoglobin formation. Int. J. Crit. Illn. Inj. Sci. 2011 Jul 1;1:168.
Outcomes and success
We’re proud to be recognized as an international Gold Center of Excellence from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) for excellence in patient care, training and education.
Our team consistently performs at or above national averages for ELSO quality metrics.
Message from the directors
Thank you for your interest in the ECMO Program at the Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. Our team is committed to excellence in extracorporeal life support including clinical outcomes, education and research. We also strive to create and grow partnerships with local, state, and nationwide institutions in order to promote collaboration in ECMO care. (Pictured from left to right: Lauren Kirkland, RN, CCRN-CSC, ECMO Program Manager; Kukbin Choi, MD, ECMO Program Surgical Director; Rafal Kopanczyk, DO, ECMO Program Medical Director; Eric Stallkamp, CCP, ECMO Program Coordinator)
ECMO Progam Leaders
Lauren Kirkland, RN
- ECMO Program Manager
Rafal Kopanczyk, DO
- Medical ECMO Director
Eric Stallkamp, CCP
- ECMO Program Coordinator
David Mast, CCP
- Supervisor, Perfusion Services
ECMO Cardiac Surgery
John Bozinovski, MD
- Associate Medical Director, Aortic Center;
Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
Kukbin Choi, MD
- Surgical Director, Lung Transplant Program;
Surgical Director, ECMO Program;
Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
Matthew Henn, MD
- Surgical Director, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support;
Surgical Director, Ross Heart Hospital Perioperative Services;
Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
Nahush Mokadam, MD
-
Associate Director of Surgical Services, Heart and Vascular Center;
Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
Bryan Whitson, MD, PhD
- Director, Division of Cardiac Surgery;
Interim Co-Director, Heart and Vascular Center;
Director, Thoracic Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support;
Co-Director, COPPER Laboratory;
Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery
ECMO Critical Care
Amar Bhatt, MD
- Associate Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Associate Director, Perioperative Echocardiography
Amy Baumann, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Division of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Floria Chae, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Victor Davila, MD, FASA
- Associate Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care Education Director, Anesthesiology Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
Kyle Dryden, DO, FAOCA
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Chantel Gray, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Andrew Springer, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Cyrus Kellermier, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Jesse Lester, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care
Michael Lyaker, MD
- Associate Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care Program Director, Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellowship
S. Veena Satyapriya, MD
- Associate Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medical Director, Critical Care Services for Ross Heart Hospital
Ashley Taylor, MD
- Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology – Clinical Divisions of Anesthesiology Critical Care and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology
Ravi Tripathi, MD, MBA
- Associate Professor ofAnesthesiology – Clinical Director, Division of Anesthesiology Critical Care Associate Chief Clinical Information Officer