Research Overview

Dr. Casavant's research focuses on the use of technology to care for medically complex patients in the community. He also focuses on the training of critical care fellows in their roles as medical control physicians for critically ill patients being transported by the Boston Children's Hospital critical care transport team. He is an attending on the acute pain treatment service and uses his knowledge to both treat patients in the hospital setting, medically complex patients in the community and also to teach resident physicians during their time in the medical surgical ICU. Dr. Casavant’s research has 3 main goals. The first is to increase the effectiveness of home ventilation utilizing novel approaches to remote monitoring of patient's being ventilated in the community. The second is the development of multidisciplinary pain treatment strategies for patients with cerebral palsy undergoing major surgeries. The third is development of an interactive training curriculum for critical care fellows in their role as medical control physicians for the Boston Children's Hospital critical care transport team.

Research Background

Dr. Casavant received his MD from Boston University and completed his residency in pediatrics and fellowship in critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has been a member of the faculty in the Division of Critical Care since 2006. He is one of the physician leaders in the Critical care, Anesthesia, Pain treatment Extension (CAPE) home ventilation program which provides respiratory support for more than 300 medically complex patients throughout New England. He is an attending on the acute pain treatment service and is the associate medical director of the critical care transport team.

Selected Publications

  1. Kantarci S, Casavant D, Prada C, Russell M, Byrne J, Haug LW, Jennings R, Manning S, Blaise F, Boyd TK, Fryns JP, Holmes LB, Donahoe PK, Lee C, Kimonis V, Pober BR. Findings from aCGH in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH): a possible locus for Fryns syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2006 Jan 1;140(1):17-23.
  2. Meshulam T, Herscovitz H, Casavant D, Bernardo J, Roman R, Haugland RP, Strohmeier GS, Diamond RD, Simons ER. Flow cytometric kinetic measurements of neutrophil phospholipase A activation. J Biol Chem. 1992 Oct 25;267(30):21465-70.

Education

Medical School

Boston University School of Medicine
1995 Boston MA

Internship

Pediatrics Massachusetts General Hospital
1998 Boston MA

Residency

Chief Resident, Pediatrics Massachusetts General Hospital
1999 Boston MA

Fellowship

Pediatric Critical Care Massachusetts General Hospital
2006 Boston MA

Publications

  1. Perioperative Health Interventions in Children With Chronic Neuromuscular Conditions Undergoing Major Musculoskeletal Surgery: A Scoping Review. Hosp Pediatr. 2024 06 01; 14(6):e281-e291. View Abstract
  2. Hospital Access Patterns of Children With Technology Dependence. Pediatrics. 2023 03 20; 151(4). View Abstract
  3. His bundle pacing insights from electroanatomical mapping: Topography and pacing targets. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2020 10; 31(10):2737-2743. View Abstract
  4. Permanent His-bundle pacing using stylet-directed, active-fixation leads placed via coronary sinus sheaths compared to conventional lumen-less system. Heart Rhythm. 2019 12; 16(12):1825-1831. View Abstract
  5. Direct Visualization of the His Bundle Pacing Lead Placement by 3-Dimensional Electroanatomic Mapping: Technique, Anatomy, and Practical Considerations. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2019 02; 12(2):e006801. View Abstract
  6. Trial of telemedicine for patients on home ventilator support: feasibility, confidence in clinical management and use in medical decision-making. J Telemed Telecare. 2014 Dec; 20(8):441-9. View Abstract
  7. Fulminant thrombotic microangiopathy in pediatrics: where diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas meet. Am J Hematol. 2012 Aug; 87(8):816-8. View Abstract
  8. Analysis of pacing/defibrillator lead failure using device diagnostics and pacing maneuvers. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2009 Apr; 32(4):547-9. View Abstract
  9. Findings from aCGH in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH): a possible locus for Fryns syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2006 Jan 01; 140(1):17-23. View Abstract
  10. Multicenter, prospective, randomized safety and efficacy study of a new atrial-based managed ventricular pacing mode (MVP) in dual chamber ICDs. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2005 Aug; 16(8):811-7. View Abstract
  11. Inhaled nitric oxide in neurogenic cardiopulmonary dysfunction: implications for organ donation. Transplant Proc. 2004 Nov; 36(9):2570-2. View Abstract
  12. Randomized pilot study of a new atrial-based minimal ventricular pacing mode in dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Heart Rhythm. 2004 Jul; 1(2):160-7. View Abstract
  13. Efficacy of atrial antitachycardia pacing using the Medtronic AT500 pacemaker in patients with congenital heart disease. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Oct 01; 92(7):871-6. View Abstract
  14. Efficacy and tolerability of automatic nighttime atrial fibrillation shocks in patients with permanent internal atrial defibrillators. Am J Cardiol. 2002 Apr 01; 89(7):875-8. View Abstract
  15. Rate dependent far-field R wave sensing in an atrial tachyarrhythmia therapy device. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2002 Jan; 25(1):112-4. View Abstract
  16. Permanent, direct His-bundle pacing: a novel approach to cardiac pacing in patients with normal His-Purkinje activation. Circulation. 2000 Feb 29; 101(8):869-77. View Abstract
  17. Stable electrical performance of high efficiency pacing leads having small surface, steroid-eluting pacing electrodes. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1999 Nov; 22(11):1599-603. View Abstract
  18. Relation of induced to spontaneous ventricular tachycardia from analysis of stored far-field implantable defibrillator electrograms. Am J Cardiol. 1999 Feb 01; 83(3):349-53. View Abstract
  19. Combined use of a true-bipolar sensing implantable cardioverter defibrillator in a patient having a prior implantable spinal cord stimulator for intractable pain. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1998 Dec; 21(12):2669-72. View Abstract
  20. Aborted implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock during facial electrosurgery. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1998 Jun; 21(6):1325-6. View Abstract
  21. Inadequacy of qualitative implantable cardioverter defibrillator electrogram analysis to distinguish supraventricular from ventricular tachycardia due to electrogram changes during normally conducted complexes. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1997 Jun; 20(6):1723-6. View Abstract
  22. Should unipolar pacemaker leads be banned? Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1997 Jun; 20(6):1744-5; author reply 1747-8. View Abstract
  23. Combined third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillator with permanent unipolar pacemakers: preliminary observations. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1996 Feb; 19(2):136-42. View Abstract
  24. Initial experience with 1.5-mm2 high impedance, steroid-eluting pacing electrodes. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1996 Feb; 19(2):188-96. View Abstract
  25. Lumbar muscle fatigue and chronic lower back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1989 Sep; 14(9):992-1001. View Abstract

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