Dr. Praveen Varma

Dr. Praveen Varma

Clinical Professor

Department: Centre for Aortic Diseases and Marfan Syndrome, Amrita Valve Repair Centre, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Heart Transplantation , Lung Transplantation, Amrita Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
Qualification: MS (General Surgery), MCh (CVTS)
Email: praveenv21204@aims.amrita.edu

About Me

Dr. Praveen Varma completed his MBBS in 1992 and MS General Surgery in 1996 from Calicut Medical College, Kerala. He completed MCh from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum in 2000. Then, he joined Medical College, Trivandrum as Lecturer in Cardiac Surgery. He worked as Assistant Professor in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum till 2005.
Then he joined as Resident in Cardio Thoracic Surgery at Boston Medical Center, Boston University and he also served as Chief Resident till 2008. At BMC, he gained more experience in CABGs, Mitral Valve Repair and surgeries for Aortic root.
He worked as senior clinical fellow Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School for 2 years. At Brigham, he gained experience in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair and AVR, complex reoperation surgeries, Heart Failure surgeries including Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Device placement.
He was appointed as Additional Professor in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum by the senior staff selection committee.
He is currently working as the Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Kochi. His specific areas of interest are beating heart CABG, Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation correction, Mitral valve and Tricuspid valve repair, extended septal myectomy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, surgery for infective endocarditis and Heart Transplantation. He has been actively involved in resident education.
He is also a reviewer for numerous journals and is also the Editorial Board member of Annals of Cardiac Anesthesia. He has co-authored close to 50 publications in various journals.

Education and Professional Experience

  • 2010 September- 2014 September - Additional Professor, CVTS, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum.
  • 2008 Jul-2010 June- Senior clinical Fellow, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
  • 2008 Jan-2008 June- Chief Resident, Cardio-Thoracic surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
  • 2006 Jul-2007 Dec- Clinical Resident, Cardio-Thoracic surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, MA, USA.
  • 2005-06- Passed USMLE Step1 (score-99) in July, Step2 CK (score-99) in September, Step 2CS in November, Step3 (score-95) in February. ECFMG
  • 2001 Jun–2005 Mar, Assistant Professor of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular surgery, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum , India.
  • 2001 Jan–2001 Jun, Lecturer in Cardiac Surgery, Medical College, Trivandrum, India.
  • 1998 Jan – 2000 Dec, Residency in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India.
  • 1996 Oct – 1997 Sep, Registrar in Cardiac Surgery, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, India.
  • 1993-1996-MS General Surgery, Calicut Medical College.
  • 1986-1992- MBBS, Calicut Medical College.

Publications
  • Varma PK, Srimurugan B, Jose RL, Krishna N, Valooran GJ, Jayant A. Perioperative right ventricular function and dysfunction in adult cardiac surgery—focused review (part 2—management of right ventricular failure). Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01226-w
  • Varma PK, Jose RL, Krishna N, et al. Perioperative right ventricular function and dysfunction in adult cardiac surgery—focused review (part 1—anatomy, pathophysiology, and diagnosis). Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01240-y
  • Reshmi JL, Gopan G, Varma PK, et al. Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of the Repaired Mitral Valve: A Proposed Decision Pathway [published online ahead of print, 2021 Sep 2]. SeminCardiothoracVascAnesth. 2021;10892532211036655. doi:10.1177/10892532211036655
  • Valooran GJ, Gopal K, Jose R, Varma PK. Early outcomes of cardiac surgical patients who developed COVID 19 in the perioperative period – Results from an online survey. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01242-w
  • Varma PK. Application of EuroSCORE II and STS score for risk assessment in Indian patients—are they useful?. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01232-y
  • Sebastian A, Sanju S, Jain P, Priya VV, Varma PK, Mony U. Non-classical monocytes and its potential in diagnosing sepsis post cardiac surgery. Int Immunopharmacol.2021 (99), 108037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108037
  • Menon D, Joseph J, Varma P, Nair S. Strong, flexible, and thrombus-free woven nanotextile based vascular grafts, and method of production thereof, US Patent 10,893,931, 2021
  • Sundaram MN, Pradeep A, Varma PK, Jayakumar R. (2021) Different Forms of Chitosan and Its Derivatives as Hemostatic Agent and Tissue Sealants. In: Advances in Polymer Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2021_98
  • Babu R, RRC, Joseph J, Sathy BN, Nair SV, Varma PK, Menon D. Design, Development, and Evaluation of an Interwoven ElectrospunNanotextile Vascular Patch. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2021; 2100359. https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202100359
  • Varma PK, Krishna N, Jose R, Gopal K, Ahamed H. “Do alternative approaches work in surgical septal myectomy?” Asian CardiovascThorac Ann. 2021 0(0) 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/02184923211025396
  • Varma PK, Gopal K, Ahamed H, Vanga SB. Posterior mitral leaflet plication with extended septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01213-1
  • Madathil T, Vanga SB, Jose RL, Gangadharan G, Jayanth A, Varma PK, Perier P. Mitral Annular Disjunction – A Serendipitous Discovery by Intra-Operative Trans Esophageal Echocardiography. J CardiothoracVascAnesth (2021), doi: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2021.04.046
  • Gopal K, Vanga SB, Varma PK. Disappearing left atrial appendage clot-the need for a more meticulous search. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2021;37(4):467-468. doi:10.1007/s12055-021-01154-9
  • Vanga S, Jayant A, Balachandran R, Varma P. Validity of Transesophageal echocardiography in estimating left ventricular filling pressures in anaesthetised patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Authorea. March 18, 2021. DOI: 10.22541/au.161606542.26025760/v1
  • Gopal K, Madathil T, Varma PK. Surgical challenges in retrieval of an embolizedtranscatheter valve from the aorta. Ann ThoracSurg (2021), doi: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.02.024
  • Gopal K, Jose R, Jose RL, Varma PK. Repair of ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm presenting as a chest wall swelling. Asian CardiovascThorac Ann. 2021;29(3):226-226. doi:10.1177/0218492320965793
  • Gopal K, Krishna N, Varma PK. Surgery for infective endocarditis—analysis of factors affecting outcome. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-021-01137-w
  • Srimurugan B, Krishna N, Jose R, et al. Aortic root widening: “pro et contra”. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-020-01125-6
  • Sundaram MN, Mony U, Varma PK, Jayakumar R. Vasoconstrictor and coagulation activator entrapped chitosan based composite hydrogel for rapid bleeding control. CarbohydrPolym. 2021;258:117634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117634
  • Varma PK (2021). Reconstructive Mitral Valve Surgery. Update on Mitral valve reconstructive surgery. In book: CSI 2020 UPDATE (pp.Chapter 112)Publisher: Evangel
  • Varma PK, Ahmed H, Krishna N, et al. Bleeding complications after dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor versus dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel-a propensity-matched comparative study of two antiplatelet regimes in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2021;37(1):27-37. doi:10.1007/s12055-020-01052-6
  • Gopal K, Chandrasekharan R, Varma PK. Flip-flopping atrial septal occluder in the heart [published online ahead of print, 2020 Nov 17]. Eur Heart J. 2020;ehaa950. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa950
  • Pradeep A, Rangasamy J, Varma PK. Recent developments in controlling sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery and measures to enhance sternal healing. Med Res Rev. 2020;1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21758
  • Varma PK. Pacemakers‑“An Infernal Machine that Interferes with the will of God”. Ann Card Anaesth2020;23:530-1. doi:10.4103/aca.ACA_33_20
  • Gopal K., Varma PK. Cardiac surgery during the times of COVID-19. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-020-01006-y
  • Varma PK, Ahamed H. Abnormal mitral valve apparatus is not an indication for mitral valve replacement in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Ann Card Anaesth2020;23:246-47.
  • Theertha M, Sanju S, Priya VV, Jain P, Varma PK, Mony U. Innate lymphoid cells: Potent early mediators of the host immune response during sepsis. Cell MolImmunol (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-020-0383-1
  • Chathoth V, Gopal K, Jose R, Padmanabhan M, Varma P. Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting. January 2020. doi:10.25373/ctsnet.11569743.
  • Mony U, S S, Jain P, K S, Sebastain A, M T, Sidharthan N, Varma PK. Detection of Dysregulated Host Response By Flow Cytometry May Pre-Empt Early Diagnosis of Sepsis after Cardiac Surgery. Blood (2019) 134 (Supplement_1): 4863. doi.org/10.1182/blood-2019-129782
  • Ghurram A, Krishna N, Bhaskaran, R, Kumaraswamy N, Jayant A, Varma PK. Patients who develop post-operative atrial fibrillation have reduced survival after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg.2019: 1-8. DOI: 10.1007/s12055-019-00844-9.
  • Jose R, Shetty A, Krishna N, ChathothV, Bhaskaran R, Jayant A, Varma PK. Early and Mid-term outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in Ischemic cardiomyopathy. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8:e010225. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.118.010225.
  • Gurram A, Krishna N, Vasudevan A, Baquero LA, Jayant A, Varma PK. Female gender is not a risk factor for early mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. Ann Card Anaesth 2019; 22: 187-93. DOI: 10.4103/aca.ACA_27_18
  • Rajagopalan BK, Jose R, Kader NP, Varma PK. Coarctation of aorta aneurysm with aberrant right subclavian artery and single carotid artery: Surgical and perfusion strategies. J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2019 Jan;157(1):e17-e19.
  • Pillai NSM, Mony U, Varma PK, Amirthalingam S, Rangasamy J. Injectable chitosan-nanobioglass composite hemostatic hydrogel for effective bleeding control. Int J BiolMacromol. 2019;129:936–943. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.220
  • Pillai NSM, Eswar K, Amirthalingam S, Mony U, Varma PK, Jayakumar R. Injectable Nano Whitlockite Incorporated Chitosan Hydrogel for Effective Hemostasis. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2019, 2, 2, 865-873.DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.8b00710.
  • Gangadharan S, Sundaram KR, Vasudevan S, Ananthakrishnan B, Balachandran R, Cherian A, Varma PK, et al. Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Adult Cardiac Surgery. Ann Card Anaesth2018;21:448-54. DOI: 10.4103/aca.ACA_21_18.
  • Agarwal GR, Krishna N, Raveendran G, Jose R, Padmanabhan M, Jayant A, Varma PK. Early Outcomes in patients undergoing Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg2019;35:168-174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-018-0730-3
  • Jose RL, Varma PK. Rationale for change in the criteria for defining severe ischemic mitral regurgitation in 2017 American College of Cardiology/American heart association guidelines. Ann Card Anaesth2018;21:464-5.
  • Sreedharan L, Krishna N, Gopalakrishnan U, Varma PK. Successful surgical repair of aorto-esophageal fistula due to fish-bone ingestion. Indian J ThoracCardiovascSurg 2018;35(1),68-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-018-0704-5
  • Varma PK, Krishna N. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Role of anesthesiologists. Ann Card Anaesth2018;21:285-6.
  • Varma PK, Ahamad H. Left Atrial Approach to Septal Myectomy – Word of Caution. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 Jun 5. pii: S0003-4975(18)30735-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2018.05.006
  • Joseph J, Krishnan AG, Cherian A, Rajagopalan BK, Jose R, Varma PK, Maniyal V, Balakrishnan S, Nair SV, Menon D. Transforming Nanofibers into Woven Nanotextiles for Vascular Application. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2018 Jun 13;10(23):19449-19458. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b05096.
  • Sundaram N, Vignesh KK, PrithivirajS,SureshKM,Biswas R, Kumar A,Varma PK, Rangasamy J. Bioadhesive, Hemostatic and Antibacterial in situ Chitin-Fibrin Nanocomposite gel for Controlling Bleeding & Preventing Infections at Mediastinum. ACS Sustainable chemistry & Engineering. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2018, 6 (6), pp 7826–7840. DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b00915.
  • Gopinathan A, Kumar A, Sen AC, Sudha S, Varma P, Gs S, Eapen M, Dinesh KR. A Case Series and Review of Bacillus Cereus Endocarditis from India. Open Microbiol J, 2018, 12, 28-33.
  • Varma PK, Krishna N, Ahamed H, Madassery S. Posterior mitral leaflet plication for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Asian CardiovascThorac Ann. 2018 Jun;26(5):400-403.
  • Bayya PR, Neema P, Varma PK. Emergency Surgery after Percutaneous Mitral Valvotomy. January (2018) In book: Percutaneous Mitral Valvotomy (pp.305-305). doi: 10.5005/jp/books/14152_36.
  • Varma PK, Krishna N, Jose RL, Madkaiker AN. Ischemic mitral regurgitation. Ann Card Anaesth2017;20:432-9.
  • Madkaiker AN, Krishna N, Kumaraswamy N, Varma PK. Infected pseudoaneurysm of the left anterior descending artery. BMJ Case Rep 2016; Nov 1.
  • Lamy A, Devereaux PJ, Prabhakaran D, et al. Five-Year Outcomes after Off-Pump or On-Pump Coronary-Artery Bypass Grafting. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(24):2359-2368. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1601564.
  • Agarwal G, Jose R, Varma P. PHV thrombosis in pregnancy. Kerala Heart J 2016; 6(2)
  • Madkaiker AN, Krishna N, Jose R, Balasubramoniam KR, Murukan P, Baquero L, Varma PK. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Caused by Pacemaker leads. Ann ThoracSurg2016;101:2358–61.
  • Varma PK, Krishna N. Surgeries for End Stage Heart Failure. Chettinad Health City Medical Journal 2015; 4(1): 36 – 39.
  • Whitlock RP, Devereaux PJ, Teoh KH, et al. Methylprednisolone in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (SIRS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1243-1253. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00273-1
  • Varma PK, Namboodiri N, Raman SP, et al. Cardiac resynchronization therapy: role of intraoperative real-time-3d transesophageal echocardiography. J CardiothoracVasc Anesth.2015;29: 1365–1375.
  • Varma PK, Krishna N. Risk Stratification in Cardiac surgery. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg.2015 ;31:224-233.
  • Abdulsamath MI, Pillai V, Radhakrishnan B, Paniker V, Varma PK, Karunakaran J. A case of rheumatic mitral stenosis with subaortic ventricular septal defect and anomalous right coronary artery from left sinus. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2015;31(2): 184-186.
  • Varma PK. Risk assessment scores in cardiac surgery. Ann Card Anaesth2015;18:170-1.
  • Varma PK, Raman SP, Neema PK, Shekar PS. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2015; 31(2):153-161
  • Radhakrishnan BK, Abdulsamath MI, Devarajan S, Panicker VT, Pillai VV, Varma PK, Karunakaran J. Primary Modified Bentall’s Procedure in a Case of Laubry-Pezzi Syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg.2014; 98(4):1445-1447.
  • Varma PK, Kundan S, Ananthanarayanan C, et al. Demographic profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting—retrospective analysis of 4,024 patients. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg. 2014; 30(4):272-77.
  • Varma PK, Suneel PR, Unnikrishnan KP, SimranK,Gadhingladjkar SV. Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Diagnosis of Concomitant Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with Anomalous Insertion of Papillary Muscle Band to Interventricular Septum in a patient for Aortic Valve Replacement.JCardiothoracVasc Anesthesia. 2014;28(6):e56-8.
  • Varma PK, Namboodiri N, Raman SP, Unnikrishnan KP, Gadhinglajkar SV. Intra-Operative Three Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Guided Left Resynchronization Therapy. J CardiothoracVasc Anesthesia. (Case conference).
  • Varma PK, Raman SP, Neema PK. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy part II–anesthetic and surgical considerations. Ann Card Anaesth. 2014; 17 (3):211-21. (review)
  • Varma PK. Prediction of post-operative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Light at the end of tunnel? Ann Card Anaesth.2014 Jul-Sep;17(3):187-90 (Invited Commentary)
  • Kundan S, Varma PK, Koshy T. Real-time three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography for diagnosing the extent of dehiscence of Starr-Edward valve prosthesis in the mitral position. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014 Sep; 15 (9):1060.
  • Varma PK, Neema PK. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: part 1 – introduction, pathology and pathophysiology. Ann Card Anaesth. 2014; Apr-Jun; 17 (2):118-24. (review)
  • Bayya PR, Varma PK, Raman SP, Neema PK. Emergency mitral valve replacement for acute severe mitral regurgitation following balloon mitral valvotomy: Pathophysiology of hemodynamic collapse and peri-operative management issues. Ann Cardiac Anaesthesia. 2014: 17 (1), 52
  • Robinson BL, Kwong RY, Varma PK, Wolfe M, Couper G. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Complex Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return in Adults. Circulation 2014: 129 (1), e1-e2.
  • Valooran GJ, Varma PK. Giant left atrial myxoma causing mitral inflow and pulmonary venous obstruction. IJPTM 2013:1, 32
  • Varma PK, Menon MU. False diagnosis of acute Type A dissection. Ann Cardiac Anaesth. 2013: 16 (3), 225
  • Gadhinglajkar S, Sreedhar R, Varma P, Pal S. Plasma exchange transfusion for management of altered heparin responsiveness before cardiopulmonary bypass. J Cardiothoracic Vascular Anesth.2013: 27 (5), e58 -60
  • Varma PK. A small step in the right direction. Ann Cardiac Anaesth. 2013: 16 (3), 167 (Invited Commentary)
  • Misra S, Dash PK, Koshy T, Varma PK, Pal S, Dinesh kumar US, Banayan J, Capdeville M. CASE 5–2012: Incidentally detected patent foramen ovale in a patient undergoing aortic valve replacement: to close or not to close? J CardiothoracVascAnesth. 2012 26(4):721-8 (case conference)
  • Sinha PK, Kumar B, Varma PK. Anesthetic management for surgical repair of Ebstein’s anomaly along with coexistent Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in a patient with severe mitral stenosis.Ann Card Anaesth.2010; 13(2):154-8·
  • Lazar HL, Varma PK, Shapira OM, Soto J, Shaw P. Endograft collapse after thoracic stent-graft repair for traumatic rupture. Ann Thorac Surgery 2009,87(5)-1582-3
  • Neema PK, Varma PK, Manikandan S, Rathod RC. Perioperative issues due to long standing lung collapse during repair of large ascending aortic aneurysm. Ann Card Anesth 2008; 11 (2):119-22
  • Sinha P, Varma P, Korach A, Shapira O. Transmitralendocavitory repair of left ventricular psuedoaneurysm : a simplified approach in patients requiring concomitant mitral valve surgery. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2008; 135(6):1382-3
  • Neema PK, Pathak S, Varma PK, Manikandan S, Rathod RC, Tempe DK, Tung A. Sytemic air embolization after termination of cardio-pulmonary bypass (case conference). J CardiothoracVasc Anesthesia. 2007;21 (2):288-97
  • Neema PK, Varma PK, Manikandan S, Rathod RC. Fatal endotracheal hemorrhage in a patient undergoing repair of large ascending aortic aneurysm. Eur J of Anesthesiol. 2007; 24 (7), 646-647.
  • Neema PK, Varma PK, Sinha PK, Rathod RC, Mahmmod F, Park KW, Shernan S. Case 4-2006: Co-existent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral stenosis and coronary artery fistula. J CardiothoracVasc Anesthesia. 2006; 20 (4):594-605. (case conference)
  • Varma PK, Neelakandhan KS. Syphilitic aneurysm eroding the chest wall Asian CardiovascThorac Ann.2006; 14(4): 351
  • Sinha PK, Neema PK, Unnikrishnan KP, Varma PK, Jayakumar K, Rathod RC. Effect of lung ventilation with 50% oxygen in air or nitrous oxide versus 100% oxygen on oxygenation index after cardiopulmonary bypass. J CardiothoracVasc Anesthesia.2006;20:136-42(original article)
  • Varma PK, Padmakumar R, Harikrishnan S, Koshy T, Neelakandhan KS. Holt-oram syndrome with hemi-azygous continuation of inferior venacava. Asian CardiovascThorac Ann. 2006; 14 :161-3
  • Varma PK, Neema PK. Severe mitral regurgitation after percutaneous transmitralcommissurotomy: Underestimated subvalvar disease. Reply to editor. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2006; 131(4): 927-8.
  • Akbari J, Varma PK, Gadhinglajkar SV, Neelakandhan KS. Late entrapment of ball and cage valve in mitral valve position. Asian CardiovascThorac Ann 2006; 14(1):e1-3
  • Neema PK, Tamba S, Varma PK, Unnikrishnan M, Rathod RC. Surgical interruption of patent ductus arteriosus in a child with severe aortic stenosis: anesthetic considerations J CardiothoracVasc Anesthesia. 2005; 19 (6):784-5
  • Varma PK, Theodre S, Neema PK, Ramachandran P, Harikrishnan S, Nair KK, Neelakandhan KS. Emergency surgery following balloon mitral valvotomy, operative findings Vs echocardiography findings, mechanism of complications and outcomes. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2005: 130 (3); 772-76. (original article)
  • Akbari J, Varma PK, Neema PK, Menon UK, Neelakandhan KS. Clinical profile and surgical outcome of pulmonary Aspergilloma. A single center experience. Ann thorac surg. 2005: 80(3); 1067-72. (original article)
  • Krishna M, Theodore S, Varma PK, Neelakandhan KS. Spontaneous iliac arteriovenous fistula: recognition and management. J CardiovascSurg (Torino). 2005 46(2): 181-2
  • Varma PK, Vallath G, Neema PK, Sinha PK, Harikrishnan S, Menon UK, Neelakandhan KS. Clinical profile of post-operative ductal aneurysm and usefulness of sternotomy and circulatory arrest for its repair. Eur J Cardio Thorac Surg. 2005 27(3): 416-9 (original article)
  • Theodore S, Varma PK, Neema PK, Neelakandhan KS. Late aneurysm formation with destruction of lung after subclavian angioplasty for coarctation of aorta. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2005; 129(2): 468-9
  • Dora S, Varma PK, Parija C, Sreedhar R, Tharakan JMT, Neelakandhan KS. Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia following radiofrequency maze procedure. Report of two cases. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2005; 129(2): 446-7
  • Neema PK, Varma PK, Sinha PK, Rathod RC. Vocal cord dysfunction in two patients after mitral valve replacement: consequences and mechanism. J CardiothoracVascAnesth. 2005; 19(1): 83-5
  • Shyamkrishnan KG, Varma PK, Neelakandhan KS, Tharakan JM. Ascending aortic coarctation with mitral regurgitation-surgical outcome—A case report. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg.2004; 20 (1): 23-24
  • Duara R, Sarma AK, Varma PK, Unnikrishan M, Sankar Kumar R. Aortic root replacement—The “Chitra” experience. Indian J ThoracCardiovasc Surg.2004; 20 (1):38-39
  • Nair K, Varma PK, Krishnamoorthy KM, Chandrabhanu P, Dora SK, Edwin F, Pradeep KD, Harikrishnan S, Sivasankaran S, Ajithkumar VK, Titus T, Tharakan JA, Neelakandhan KS. Long-Term Follow-up of Aortic Valve Replacement with Starr-Edwards Prosthesis. Indian Heart J. 2004:56(5). (Abstract)
  • Harikrishnan MS, Nair, K, Krishnamoorthy KM, Tharakan JA, Varma PK, Dora SK, Harikrishnan S, Titus T, Ajithkumar VK Sivasankaran, S, Rajeev E, Namboodiri KKN, Neelakandhan KS. Long-term Follow-up of Mitral Valve Replacement in Children. Indian Heart J. 2004:56(5). Sept-Oct, 2004(Abtract)
  • Harikrishnan MS, Nair, K, Krishnamoorthy KM, Tharakan JA, Varma PK, Dora SK, Harikrishnan S, Titus T, Ajithkumar VK Sivasankaran, S, Rajeev E, Namboodiri KKN, Neelakandhan KS. Long-Term Follow-up of Aortic Valve Replacement in Children. Indian Heart J. 2004:56(5) oct, 2004; 5(5) (Abstract)
  • Rajeev E, Harikrishnan S, Varma PK, Nair K, Namboodiri KKN, Dora SK, Krishnamoorthy KM, Sivasankaran S, Kumar A, Titus T, Tharakan JA, Mukundan C. Cortriatriatum Sinister – Profile of 10 Cases. Indian Heart J. 2004:56(5). (Abstract)
  • Neema PK, Sinha PK, Varma PK, Rathod RC. Simultaneous repair of bilateral multiple emphysematous bullae with a secundum atrial septal defect. J CardiothoracVascAnesth. 2004:18(5): 632-6
  • Gadhinglajkar SV, Sridhar R, Varma PK. Controlled aortic root perfusion: a novel method to treat refractory ventricular arrhythmias after aortic valve replacement. J CardiothoracVascAnesth. 2004 18(2): 197-200
  • Varma PK, Misra M, Radhakrishnan VV, Neelakandhan KS. Fatal post-operative gastrointestinal hemorrhage because of angiodysplasia of small intestine in aortic regurgitation. ICVTS. 2004:118-20
  • Varma PK, Warrier G, Ramachandran P, Neema PK, Manohar SRK, Titus T, Neelakandhan KS. Partial atrio-ventricular canal defect with cor-triatriatum sinister. Report of three cases. J Thorac Cardio Vasc Surg. 2004:127:572-3
  • Praveen V, Anbarasu M, Sreenivas VG, Neelakandhan KS. Dysphagia lusorum. Asian CardiovascThorac Ann. 2003 11(4): 376
  • Varma PK, Dharan BS, Ramachandran P, Neelakandhan KS. Superior vena caval aneurysm. ICVTS. 2003:2:331-33
  • Varma PK, Latha M, Purushotham SN, Neelakandhan KS. Abdominal aortic occlusion due to aortoarteritis. Eur J Cardio Thorac Surg. 2003; 24:451
Reviewer

  • International Journal of Cardiology
  • Annals of Thoracic Surgery
  • European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
  • Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
  • Indian Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Editorial Board

  • Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia

Professional Interest

  • Mitral Valve Repair, Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation
  • Heart Failure and Transplantation
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Outcome Research, Data Base
  • Resident Education

Professional Memberships

  • Indian Medical Association
  • CTS Net

Projects

  • Onsite PI -Coronary Trial (On pump vs. off pump CABG) (2014-16) - Results published in NEJM
  • Onsite PI-Phase 3 clinical trial of Daffodil™ VALVE (2018- )-Merril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd, Gujarat, India
  • Onsite PI -Preserve Mitral study-CG Future ring (2018- )- Medtronic Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Development of Homograft Bank (2002-2004) - Pilot study-STEK Sponsored

Workshops and Seminars Organized

  • Mitral Valve Repair by Prof Dr Sampath Kumar, All India Institute of medical Sciences-2003
  • Aortic Root Replacement by Dr Joachim Lass, Bad Bevenson Hospital, Germany- 2003
  • Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery by Dr Prem Shekhar, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston-2012
  • Seminar on Heart Failure Surgery by Dr Prem S Shekhar MD, Dr Luigino Nascimben MD, Mr Giovanni Cercere (ACP), BWH, Boston-2012
  • CME on Amrita Heart Valve Conclave 2015- Mitral Valve Repair at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi-2015.
  • CME on Amrita Heart Valve Conclave 2016- Aortic Valve Repair at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi-2016.
  • CME on Amrita Heart Conclave 2017- MICS CABG at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi-2017.
  • CME on Amrita Heart Conclave 2018- A workshop on Aortic Root Surgery in Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi-2018.

Additional Professional Activities

  • Member, Hospital Transfusion Committee (2003 -2004).
  • Member, six-sigma project (2002).
  • Co-Investigator, Homograft Project (2003 -2004), Project grant from Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • Associate Investigator in animal experiments, unicentric and multicentric trial for development of membrane oxygenator (1999-2004).
  • Blood Conservation in Valvular Heart Diseases (2002-2003).
  • Chief Investigator. Data Base for valve surgery. Project Grant from Edward Life Sciences.
  • Member Board of studies for cardiac surgery, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum (2010-2012). Revised the curriculum, developed teaching modules and evaluation protocol for Cardio-Thoracic Residents.
  • Program-in-Charge, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum (2011- 2012).
  • Member of following committees:
    • Junior staff selection (2010-13).
    • Resident Selection (2010-13).
    • Clinical Perfusionist Selection (2010-12).
    • Guidelines for Doctors in their relation to Industries and Pharma’s- Report submitted 2011.
    • Revision of working hours for employees-Report submitted in 2012.

Chair Person for following conferences

  • Aortic Valve Repair – Prof. Dr. Pedro Del Nido – PCSI Annual Conference 2011.
  • Live Workshop Mitral Valve Repair - Dr Patrick Perrier, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai- 2012.
  • IACTS Annual Conference Feb 2014.
  • Asia Pacific Valve Symposium-Bangalore 2014.

Invited Guest Lectures

  • “Heart Team”-Guidelines on Myocardial Revascularization – PIMS, Pondicherry 2011.
  • Syntax Trial- Madras Medical Mission, Chennai - 2012.
  • Heart Failure Surgery - Kerala Association of Clinical Perfusion 2012.
  • Post-operative care of cardiac surgery patients-Madras Medical Mission.
  • Relevance of Database- Lissie Hospital, Cochin -April 2014.