SUMMARY
Donald J. Hagler, M.D., primarily studies the use of echocardiography and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures in the management of complex congenital heart disease. His work taps into the long history of congenital cardiac surgical and medical teamwork at Mayo, which provides the background and basis for clinical research investigating the optimal management of complex congenital heart disease.
Dr. Hagler participates in interventional catheterization studies to determine the effectiveness of atrial and ventricular septal defect closure devices, percutaneously implantable tissue prosthetic valves, and pulmonary artery stenting procedures.
Focus areas
- Diagnostic and interventional congenital cardiac catheterization. Dr. Hagler and his team study intravascular stents and percutaneously implantable tissue prosthetic valves.
- Percutaneous catheter device closure. Dr. Hagler is exploring the use of percutaneous catheter device closure in the treatment of atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus and postoperative prosthetic paravalvular fistulae. The treatment of these conditions has provided an opportunity for collaborative efforts in the management of congenital heart disease.
- The use of imaging tools for clinical care and research. Dr. Hagler and his colleagues are interested in the ways echocardiography, fetal echocardiography, and transesophageal and intracardiac echocardiography provide support in the management of patients with complex congenital heart disease. New imaging modalities may provide enhanced 3-D images by both transesophageal and intracardiac imaging methods.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Hagler is involved in ongoing clinical projects, including a post-approval study of percutaneous catheter implantations of the Medtronic Melody prosthetic pulmonary valve. Other catheter implantable valves include the Edwards Sapien transcatheter valve. The use of these percutaneously implantable valves has significantly reduced the need for surgical valve replacements.
Dr. Hagler's work for patent foramen ovale closure in patients who have had a stroke will investigate the benefits of preventing future embolizations in patients who also have implantable pacemakers and defibrillator devices.
In addition, Dr. Hagler is participating in a national collaborative study to assess the results and complications of cardiac catheterization procedures. The study looks at the Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium and the American College of Cardiology's Impact registries, which monitor cardiac catheterization complications and are designed to improve the quality of patient care.
Professional highlights
- Consultant, Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee, 2009-present
- Editorial board member, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, 2009-present
- Board member, American College of Pediatricians, 2007-present
- Fellow, Medical Device Fellowship Program, Food and Drug Administration, 2007-2008