Jennifer K. Lee, MD
Non-Invasively Monitoring Cerebrovascular Autoregulation after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Lee is studying cerebrovascular autoregulation in pediatric patients recovering from cardiac arrest. Through developing non-invasive monitors that clinicians can use at the patient’s bedside, Dr. Lee aims to decrease the risk of permanent neurologic injury after resuscitation. Her study is the first to examine autoregulation in children after cardiac arrest using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology.

Background

Dr. Lee is a clinician-scientist who works in both the laboratory and clinical research arenas. Her career goals include directly translating her work in the laboratory to patient care, and ultimately improving neurologic outcomes for children at risk of brain injury. Her past laboratory-based research involving cerebrovascular autoregulation in a piglet model of pediatric brain injury assisted with the development of NIRS-derived monitors. Dr. Lee plans to transcend her animal-based protocols to bedside pediatric care.

“It is imperative that we continue to push the boundaries of medicine through clinical research. We must use science and evidence-based medicine to improve diagnostic methods and treatments for our patients. As anesthesiologists, we are experts in physiology and we care for patients when they are critically ill: during anesthesia and in the ICU. We should always use our knowledge and expertise to “raise the bar” on the standards of medical care.”

Key Publications

Brady KM, Lee JK, Kibler KK, Easley RB, Koehler RC, Czosnyka M, Smielewski P, Shaffner DH. The lower limit of cerebral blood flow autoregulation is increased with elevated intracranial pressure. Anesthesia and Analgesia 2009; 108(4): 1278-1283.

Lee JK, Kibler KK, Benni PB, Easley RB, Czosnyka M, Smielewski P, Koehler RC, Shaffner DH, Brady KM. Cerebrovascular reactivity measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Stroke. 2009; 40(5):1820-6.

Brady KM, Shaffner DH, Lee JK, Easley RB, Smielewski P, Czosnyka M, Jallo GI, Guerguerian AM. Continuous Monitoring of Cerebrovascular Pressure Reactivity After Traumatic Brain Injury in Children. Pediatrics 2009; 124(6): e1205-1212.