Overview
Dr. Karthik Raghunathan is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Anesthesiology, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Population Health Sciences, at the Duke University School of Medicine. He co-directs the Critical care And Perioperative population hEalth Research (CAPER) Program housed within Duke Anesthesiology. He is also a Staff Physician in the Anesthesia Sevice at the Durham Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
In addition to clinical practice as an anesthesiologist and intensive care physician, Dr. Raghunathan is an epidemiologist and health services researcher with over $2 Million in funding from Federal, Industry, and Non-Profit entities since 2015. His research is focused on acute postoperative pain management, the implementation and effectiveness of nonpharmacologic treatments, intravenous fluid resuscitation, equity in anesthesia care, and perioperative medicine. He collaborates with investigators within Duke, VA Healthcare Systems nationwide, and colleagues outside the US. He can be reached at kr118@duke.edu.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Scholarly Works
Association of blood pressure variability with clinical and biomarker outcomes in moderate to severe TBI: A TRACK-TBI study.
Journal article J Clin Neurosci · July 2026 INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant global health burden and often results in functional impairment. Blood pressure variability (BPV), a surrogate marker of autonomic dysfunction, has been shown to influence outcomes in pati ... Full text Link to item CiteDisparities in educational attainment and assault mortalities among Asian Americans in the USA, 2009-2021.
Journal article Inj Prev · May 15, 2026 BACKGROUND: In 2021, a spike in Asian American hate crimes resurged discussion on Asian health disparities. This study describes the association between education and assault among Asian Americans and their subgroups. METHODS: This cross-sectional study us ... Full text Link to item CiteAssociation of Preinjury Beta-Blocker Exposure With Brain Injury Biomarkers Following Traumatic Brain Injury.
Journal article J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · April 1, 2026 OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers have been studied for their impact on traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to examine the association of preinjury beta-blocker exposure with early brain injury biomarker levels and outcomes following TBI. METHODS: We retrospecti ... Full text Open Access Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Integrated Training in Anesthesiology Research
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 1996 - 2031Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome across a Diverse Patient Population
ResearchMentor · Awarded by American Society of Anesthesiologists · 2022 - 2024Sugammadex versus Neostigmine in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Merck & Co., Inc. · 2021 - 2023View All Grants