Steven Nicholas Vaslef | Scholars@Duke

Steven Nicholas Vaslef
Associate Professor of Surgery

Current research interests include: The development of an implantable artificial lung; design and evaluation of membrane oxygenators; evaluation of blood substitutes; treatment and physiology of shock; gastrointestinal tonometry.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Trauma and Critical Care Surgery, Surgery 2004
Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology 1996

Contact Information

Box 2837 Med Ctr, DUMC, Durham, NC 27710
Room 1557, Duke South - Blue Zone, Durham, NC 27710
vasle001@mc.duke.edu (919) 684-3636

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Northwestern University 1990
- M.D., University of Virginia 1984
Duke Appointment History
- Division Chief of Trauma and Critical Care in the Department of Surgery, Surgery, Clinical Science Departments 2011 - 2017
- Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Clinical Science Departments 2000 - 2004
- Assistant Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Clinical Science Departments 1994 - 2000
- Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 1995 - 1997
Research
Selected Grants
- SC2i awarded by Henry M. Jackson Foundation 2014 - 2019
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Sigurdsson, MI, Brockbank, B, Haney, JC, Andrews, J, MacLeod, DB, Vaslef, SN, Brooks, KR, Manning, EL, and Nicoara, A. "Abdominal Gunshot Causing Ventricular Septal Injury Without Perforation into the Pericardium." Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 33, no. 3 (March 2019): 772-775. Full Text
  - Giattino, CM, Gardner, JE, Sbahi, FM, Roberts, KC, Cooter, M, Moretti, E, Browndyke, JN, Mathew, JP, Woldorff, MG, Berger, M, and MADCO-PC Investigators, . "Intraoperative Frontal Alpha-Band Power Correlates with Preoperative Neurocognitive Function in Older Adults." Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 11 (January 2017): 24-null. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Keenan, JE, Gulack, BC, Nussbaum, DP, Green, CL, Vaslef, SN, Shapiro, ML, and Scarborough, JE. "Optimal timing of tracheostomy after trauma without associated head injury." The Journal of surgical research 198, no. 2 (October 2015): 475-481. Full Text
  - Christie, JD, Vaslef, S, Chang, PK, May, AK, Gunn, SR, Yang, S, Hardes, K, Kahl, L, Powley, WM, Lipson, DA, Bayliffe, AI, and Lazaar, AL. "A Randomized Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Dilmapimod in Severe Trauma Subjects at Risk for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome." Critical Care Medicine 43, no. 9 (September 2015): 1859-1869. Full Text
  - McCoy, CC, Englum, BR, Keenan, JE, Vaslef, SN, Shapiro, ML, and Scarborough, JE. "Impact of specific postoperative complications on the outcomes of emergency general surgery patients." The journal of trauma and acute care surgery 78, no. 5 (May 2015): 912-918. Full Text
  - Rialon, KL, Speicher, PJ, Ceppa, EP, Rendell, VR, Vaslef, SN, Beaven, A, Tyler, DS, and Blazer, DG. "Outcomes following splenectomy in patients with myeloid neoplasms." Journal of surgical oncology 111, no. 4 (March 2015): 389-395. Full Text
  - Speicher, PJ, Ganapathi, AM, Englum, BR, and Vaslef, SN. "Laparoscopy is safe among patients with congestive heart failure undergoing general surgery procedures." Surgery 156, no. 2 (August 2014): 371-378. Full Text
  - Foster, NA, Elfenbein, DM, Kelley, W, Brown, CR, Foley, C, Scarborough, JE, Vaslef, SN, and Shapiro, ML. "Comparison of helicopter versus ground transport for the interfacility transport of isolated spinal injury." Spine J 14, no. 7 (July 1, 2014): 1147-1154. Full Text Link to Item
  - Schroder, VT, Pappas, TN, Vaslef, SN, De La Fuente, SG, and Scarborough, JE. "Vagotomy/drainage is superior to local oversew in patients who require emergency surgery for bleeding peptic ulcers." Ann Surg 259, no. 6 (June 2014): 1111-1118. Full Text Link to Item
  - Brooks, KR, Scarborough, JE, Vaslef, SN, and Shapiro, ML. "No need to wait: an analysis of the timing of cholecystectomy during admission for acute cholecystitis using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database." J Trauma Acute Care Surg 74, no. 1 (January 2013): 167-173. Full Text Link to Item
  - Sarraf-Yazdi, S, Sharpe, M, Bennett, KM, Dotson, TL, Anderson, DJ, and Vaslef, SN. "A 9-Year retrospective review of antibiotic cycling in a surgical intensive care unit." The Journal of Surgical Research 176, no. 2 (August 2012): e73-e78. Full Text
  - Bhattacharya, SD, Vaslef, SN, Pappas, TN, and Scarborough, JE. "Locoregional versus general anesthesia for open inguinal herniorrhaphy: a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis." Am Surg 78, no. 7 (July 2012): 798-802. Link to Item
  - Bennett, KM, Vaslef, S, Pappas, TN, and Scarborough, JE. "The volume-outcomes relationship for United States Level I trauma centers." J Surg Res 167, no. 1 (May 1, 2011): 19-23. Full Text Link to Item
  - Gerardo, CJ, Glickman, SW, Vaslef, SN, Chandra, A, Pietrobon, R, and Cairns, CB. "The rapid impact on mortality rates of a dedicated care team including trauma and emergency physicians at an academic medical center." The Journal of Emergency Medicine 40, no. 5 (May 2011): 586-591. Full Text
  - Coursey, CA, Nelson, RC, Moreno, RD, Patel, MB, Beam, CA, and Vaslef, S. "Appendicitis, body mass index, and CT: is CT more valuable for obese patients than thin patients?." Am Surg 77, no. 4 (April 2011): 471-475. Link to Item
  - Scarborough, JE, and Vaslef, SN. "Utilisation of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in blunt thoracic trauma." Trauma 12, no. 4 (October 2010): 247-256. Full Text
  - Bennett, KM, Scarborough, JE, and Vaslef, S. "Outcomes and health care resource utilization in super-elderly trauma patients." J Surg Res 163, no. 1 (September 2010): 127-131. Full Text Link to Item
  - Coursey, CA, Nelson, RC, Moreno, RD, Dodd, LG, Patel, MB, and Vaslef, S. "Carcinoid tumors of the appendix: are these tumors identifiable prospectively on preoperative CT?." The American Surgeon 76, no. 3 (March 2010): 273-275.
  - Coursey, CA, Nelson, RC, Patel, MB, Cochran, C, Dodd, LG, Delong, DM, Beam, CA, and Vaslef, S. "Making the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: do more preoperative CT scans mean fewer negative appendectomies? A 10-year study." Radiology 254, no. 2 (February 2010): 460-468. Full Text
  - Bennett, KM, Vaslef, SN, Shapiro, ML, Brooks, KR, and Scarborough, JE. "Does intent matter? The medical and societal burden of self-inflicted injury." J Trauma 67, no. 4 (October 2009): 841-847. Full Text Link to Item
  - Rivera-Troche, EY, Hartwig, MG, and Vaslef, SN. "Multiseptate gallbladder." J Gastrointest Surg 13, no. 9 (September 2009): 1741-1743. Full Text Link to Item
  - Funk, DJ, Lujan, E, Moretti, EW, Davies, J, Young, CC, Patel, MB, and Vaslef, SN. "A brief report: the use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation for severe pulmonary contusion." The Journal of Trauma 65, no. 2 (August 2008): 390-395. Full Text
  - Bennett, KM, Scarborough, JE, Sharpe, M, Dodds-Ashley, E, Kaye, KS, Hayward, TZ, and Vaslef, SN. "Implementation of antibiotic rotation protocol improves antibiotic susceptibility profile in a surgical intensive care unit." The Journal of Trauma 63, no. 2 (August 2007): 307-311. Full Text
  - Jr, JJD, Cullinane, DC, Altman, DT, Bokhari, F, Cheng, JS, Como, J, Gunter, O, Holevar, M, Jerome, R, Jr, SJK, Lorenzo, M, Mejia, V, Miglietta, M, O'Neill, PJ, Rhee, P, Sing, R, Streib, E, and Vaslef, S. "Practice management guidelines for the screening of thoracolumbar spine fracture." The Journal of trauma 63, no. 3 (2007): 709-718.
  - Vaslef, SN, Cairns, CB, and Falletta, JM. "Ethical and regulatory challenges associated with the exception from informed consent requirements for emergency research: from experimental design to institutional review board approval." Arch Surg 141, no. 10 (October 2006): 1019-1023. Full Text Link to Item
  - Hartwig, MG, Biswas, SS, Glower, DD, and Vaslef, SN. "CABG for chronic disease during repair of traumatic ascending aortic rupture." J Trauma 59, no. 6 (December 2005): 1492-1494. Link to Item
  - Atkins, BZ, Abbate, S, Fisher, SR, and Vaslef, SN. "Current management of laryngotracheal trauma: case report and literature review." J Trauma 56, no. 1 (January 2004): 185-190. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Udekwu, P, Kromhout-Schiro, S, Vaslef, S, Baker, C, and Oller, D. "Glasgow Coma Scale score, mortality, and functional outcome in head-injured patients." The Journal of Trauma 56, no. 5 (2004): 1084-1089.
  - Wirk, S, and Vaslef, SN. "Oxygen transport dynamics after resuscitation with a conjugated hemoglobin solution." Arch Surg 139, no. 1 (January 2004): 55-60. Full Text Link to Item
  - Voss, M, Pinheiro, J, Reynolds, J, Greene, R, Dewhirst, M, Vaslef, SN, Clary, E, and Eubanks, WS. "Endoscopic components separation for abdominal compartment syndrome." Am J Surg 186, no. 2 (August 2003): 158-163. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Knudsen, NW, Neligan, PJ, and Sebastian, MW. "Massive transfusion exceeding 50 units of blood products in trauma patients." J Trauma 53, no. 2 (August 2002): 291-295. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Kaminski, BJ, and Talarico, TL. "Oxygen transport dynamics of acellular hemoglobin solutions in an isovolemic hemodilution model in swine." J Trauma 51, no. 6 (December 2001): 1153-1160. Link to Item
  - Hewett, JJ, Freed, KS, Sheafor, DH, Vaslef, SN, and Kliewer, MA. "The spectrum of abdominal venous CT findings in blunt trauma." AJR Am J Roentgenol 176, no. 4 (April 2001): 955-958. Full Text Link to Item
  - Kypson, AP, Wentzensen, N, Georgiade, GS, and Vaslef, SN. "Traumatic vertebrojugular arteriovenous fistula: case report." The Journal of Trauma 49, no. 6 (December 2000): 1141-1143. (Review) Full Text
  - Noone, RB, Bolden, JE, Mythen, MG, and Vaslef, SN. "Comparison of the response of saline tonometry and an automated gas tonometry device to a change in CO2." Crit Care Med 28, no. 11 (November 2000): 3728-3733. Link to Item
  - Dahm, P, Roland, FH, Vaslef, SN, Moon, RE, Price, DT, Georgiade, GS, and Vieweg, J. "Outcome analysis in patients with primary necrotizing fasciitis of the male genitalia." Urology 56, no. 1 (July 2000): 31-35. (Review) Link to Item
  - Shah, AS, Forbess, JM, Skaryak, LA, Lilly, RE, Vaslef, SN, and D'Amico, TA. "Emergent thoracotomy for airway control after intrathoracic tracheal injury." J Trauma 48, no. 6 (June 2000): 1163-1164. Link to Item
  - Glasgow, SC, Shah, AS, Noone, RB, Gottfried, MR, Eachempati, SR, Talarico, TL, and Vaslef, SN. "Comparison of various hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate solutions as resuscitative fluids after hemorrhagic shock." J Trauma 48, no. 5 (May 2000): 884-892. Link to Item
  - Hewett, JJ, Freed, KS, Sheafor, DH, and Vaslef, SN. "Contained hematoma (pseudoaneurysm) of the inferior vena cava associated with blunt abdominal trauma." AJR Am J Roentgenol 172, no. 4 (April 1999): 1144-. Full Text Link to Item
  - Hughes, GC, Smith, TP, Eachempati, SR, Vaslef, SN, and Reed, RL. "The use of a temporary vena caval interruption device in high-risk trauma patients unable to receive standard venous thromboembolism prophylaxis." J Trauma 46, no. 2 (February 1999): 246-249. Link to Item
  - Abdul Jabbar, AS, Al Shanafey, SN, and Vaslef, SN. "Gallstone pancreatitis in pregnancy." Saudi J Gastroenterol 5, no. 1 (January 1999): 32-35. Link to Item
  - Eachempati, SR, Vaslef, SN, Sebastian, MW, and Reed, RL. "Blunt vascular injuries of the head and neck: is heparinization necessary?." The Journal of Trauma 45, no. 6 (December 1998): 997-1004. Full Text
  - Noone, RB, Mythen, MG, and Vaslef, SN. "Effect of alpha(alpha)-cross-linked hemoglobin and pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate solutions on gastrointestinal regional perfusion in hemorrhagic shock." J Trauma 45, no. 3 (September 1998): 457-469. Link to Item
  - Sheafor, DH, Foti, TM, Vaslef, SN, and Nelson, RC. "Fat in the inferior vena cava associated with caval injury." AJR Am J Roentgenol 171, no. 1 (July 1998): 181-182. Full Text Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Dragelin, JB, Takla, MW, and Saliba, EJ. "Multiple impalement with survival." Am J Emerg Med 15, no. 1 (January 1997): 70-72. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, and Vender, JS. "Postoperative care of the trauma patient." Anesthesiology Clinics of North America 14, no. 1 (January 1, 1996): 239-256. Full Text
  - Vaslef, SN, Mockros, LF, Cook, KE, Leonard, RJ, Sung, JC, and Anderson, RW. "Computer-assisted design of an implantable, intrathoracic artificial lung." Artif Organs 18, no. 11 (November 1994): 813-817. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Mockros, LF, Anderson, RW, and Leonard, RJ. "Use of a mathematical model to predict oxygen transfer rates in hollow fiber membrane oxygenators." ASAIO J 40, no. 4 (October 1994): 990-996. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Cook, KE, Leonard, RJ, Mockros, LF, and Anderson, RW. "Design and evaluation of a new, low pressure loss, implantable artificial lung." ASAIO J 40, no. 3 (July 1994): M522-M526. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, and Goldstick, TK. "Enhanced oxygen delivery induced by perfluorocarbon emulsions in capillary tube oxygenators." ASAIO J 40, no. 3 (July 1994): M643-M648. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, and Roberts, WC. "Early descriptions of aortic valve stenosis." Am Heart J 125, no. 5 Pt 1 (May 1993): 1465-1474. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, and Roberts, WC. "Early descriptions of aortic regurgitation." Am Heart J 125, no. 5 Pt 1 (May 1993): 1475-1483. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Mockros, LF, and Anderson, RW. "Development of an intravascular lung assist device." ASAIO Trans 35, no. 3 (July 1989): 660-664. Link to Item
- Other Articles
  - Stephenson, GR, Gray, JL, Vaslef, SN, Louis, JT, and Hill, SL. "Impingement of the supraceliac aorta after a gun shot wound." J Trauma 53, no. 2 (August 2002): 394-. Link to Item
  - Vaslef, SN, Gross, R, Tyburski, JG, Barquist, ES, and Schreiber, MA. "The effect of recombinant factor VIIa on coagulopathic pigs with grade V liver injuries - Discussion." JOURNAL OF TRAUMA-INJURY INFECTION AND CRITICAL CARE 53, no. 2 (August 2002): 257-259. Link to Item
  - McKenney, MG, and Vaslef, SN. "Oxygen transport dynamics of acellular hemoglobin solutions in an isovolemic hemodilution model in swine - Discussion." JOURNAL OF TRAUMA-INJURY INFECTION AND CRITICAL CARE 51, no. 6 (December 2001): 1160-1160. Link to Item
- Conference Papers
  - Darrabie, MD, Lee, J, Cheeseman, J, Limkakeng, AT, Vaslef, SN, Sullenger, BA, and Kirk, AD. "Toll-Like Receptor Signaling as a Prognostic Tool in Trauma Patients." : Elsevier BV, October 2016. Full Text
  - Patel, MB, Bhattacharya, SD, Williams, JB, Sweeney, TE, Vaslef, SN, Hughes, GC, Kuo, PC, and Lawson, JH. "Six Year, Single Institution, off-Label Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa." 52nd Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH). Orlando, FL. December 4, 2010 - December 7, 2010. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY, November 19, 2010. Link to Item
  - Gerardo, CJ, Vaslef, SN, Chandra, A, McCormick, C, Pietrobon, R, and Cairns, CB. "The impact of specialty trained emergency medicine and trauma teams on trauma mortality rates at an academic level I trauma center." October 2006. Link to Item
  - Hayward, TZ, Vaslef, SN, and Knudsen, NW. "Predictors of mortality in transferred ICU patients." February 2003. Link to Item
  - Hayward, TZ, and Vaslef, SN. "Predictors of mortality in transferred ICU patients." December 2002. Full Text Link to Item
  - Tuttle-Newhall, JE, Collins, BH, Vaslef, SN, Kuo, PC, Piantadosi, E, Stephenson, GR, Heneghan, MA, and Knudsen, NW. "The effect of pre-transplant MELD score on length of stay and hospital charges after orthotopic liver transplantation." October 2002. Link to Item
  - Sebastian, MW, Knudsen, NW, Georgiade, GS, Allen, DH, and Vaslef, SN. "Streamlined critical care bed flow in a tertiary care medical center." December 1, 1999.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- SURGERY 441C: Sub-Internship in Surgical Intensive Care 2019
- SURGERY 443C: Trauma Service 2019

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Other Articles

Conference Papers

Recent Courses