Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar, MD, MPH, MS, RPVI

Research Projects for Students and Residents

Project 1:

Title: The significance of reinterventions in the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Description: Patients treated with open or endovascular revascularization of the lower extremities undergo frequently repeated intervention to sustain patency and to provide limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia. This project studies the impact and costs of reinterventions on patient outcomes.

Project 2:

Title: Prediction model for major amputation in patients with PAD

Description: This patient will rely on large database data to identify factors that can predict major amputation in patients with PAD undergoing lower extremity revascularization.

Project 3:

Title: Characteristics and outcomes of patients with premature vascular disease

Description: Vascular diseases such as peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic disease, and carotid disease are typically diseases of the elderly. Yet, some patients present at relatively young age and tend to have different characteristics and more aggressive forms of the disease. This project aims at better identifying the specific risk factors for those patients and better understand their outcomes after vascular surgery.

Project 4:

Title: Universal Algorithm for venous disease

Description: Our understanding of venous disease and its treatment has evolved and there are several structural anomalies that can be surgically treated that can improve patient symptoms. However, there is no recommended and well defined protocol for the approach to the patient. This project studies the effect of the Yale Vascular Surgery protocol on the evaluation and outcomes of patients with venous disease affecting the lower extremities. The protocol was incorporated in a signature care pathway in epic (the electronic medical record). The project will study the impact of this integration on the care of patients with venous insufficiency at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Project 5:

Title: Iliofemoral DVT and post phlebetic syndrome in the DOAC era

Description: This study aims to study the risk of postphlebetic syndrome after iliofemoral DVT in patients on DOAC compared to coumadin. Also, it will assess the incidence of postphlebetic syndrome after different types of DVT. This project is in collaboration with the hematology team.

Project 6:

Title: Management of vascular disease in the very old

Description: As the population ages, vascular surgeons increasingly face complex patients in their 80s and 90s requiring treatment. This project aims to study the trends in treatment of vascular disease in the elderly, as well as the outcomes and focus on the impact on quality of life.

Project 7:

Title: Genetic predictors of revascularization outcomes

Description: This project will use Yale data, UK biobank, and all of us data to identify genetic variants that can be associated with outcome of vascular revascularization. This project involves collaborators in the school of public health and the yale genetics department.

Project 8:

Title: Smoking cessation in vascular patients

Description: Smoking is very prevalent in patients with vascular disease. Patients get advised about smoking cessation all the time. This study looks at different means to enhance cessation in vascular patients in the inpatient as well as the outpatient settings.