Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

University of Virginia

1998, Charlottesville, VA

Medical School

University of Virginia

2002, Charlottesville, VA

Internship

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

2003, Cincinnati, OH

Residency

Chief Resident, Pediatrics

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

2006, Cincinnati, OH

Fellowship

Clinical Fellow, Anesthesia

Boston Children's Hospital

2010, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Pediatrics (Critical Care Medicine)
  • American Board of Pediatrics (General)

Professional History

Dr. Kheir joined the staff of the Boston Children’s Hospital Heart Center in 2010.  He is a staff physician in the cardiac intensive care unit, where he cares for critically ill patients with congenital heart disease.  He is also the co-founder of the Translational Research Lab within the Heart Center, a group focused upon the development of new diagnostic and treatment tools related to oxygen deprivation, a common problem in patients with severe heart disease.  For example, he and his group are developing tools to deliver oxygen directly to the bloodstream for use in extreme emergencies.  Among his other interests are new ways to determine whether patients are receiving sufficient oxygen delivery following their operations, particularly in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 

Publications

  1. Biventricular Repair of Univentricular Heart Lowers Risk of Liver Disease Compared With the Fontan Operation. JACC Adv. 2025 Jan; 4(1):101429. View Abstract

  2. Systemically injected oxygen within rapidly dissolving microbubbles improves the outcomes of severe hypoxaemia in swine. Nat Biomed Eng. 2024 Nov; 8(11):1396-1411. View Abstract

  3. Pediatric Sedation Gets a Wake-Up Call. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Sep 10; 84(11):1022-1024. View Abstract

  4. Efficacy and safety of early postoperative ablation in patients with congenital heart disease. Heart Rhythm. 2024 Sep 06. View Abstract

  5. Esophageal oxyhemoglobin saturation as a resuscitative metric in hemorrhagic shock. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2024; 9(1):e001480. View Abstract

  6. Arch watch: current approaches and opportunities for improvement. J Perinatol. 2024 Mar; 44(3):325-332. View Abstract

  7. Social Drivers of Health and Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Outcomes. Pediatrics. 2023 Dec 01; 152(6). View Abstract

  8. Administration of Milrinone Following Tetralogy of Fallot Repair Increases Postoperative Volume Administration Without Improving Cardiac Output. Anesth Analg. 2023 Nov 01; 137(5):1056-1065. View Abstract

  9. Impact of Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Opioid and Benzodiazepine Doses in Ventilated Pediatric Patients in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Paediatr Drugs. 2023 Nov; 25(6):709-718. View Abstract

  10. Predicting favorable response to intravenous morphine in pediatric critically ill cardiac patients. Pharmacotherapy. 2023 07; 43(7):579-587. View Abstract

  11. Injectable Oxygen Microparticles Boost Radiation-Mediated In Situ Vaccination and Systemic Antitumor Immune Responses. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Jul 15; 116(4):906-915. View Abstract

  12. Insight into the Role of the Child Opportunity Index on Surgical Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease. J Pediatr. 2023 08; 259:113464. View Abstract

  13. Clinical risk prediction score for postoperative accelerated junctional rhythm and junctional ectopic tachycardia in children with congenital heart disease. Heart Rhythm. 2023 07; 20(7):1011-1017. View Abstract

  14. Low-Fouling Zwitterionic Polymeric Colloids as Resuscitation Fluids for Hemorrhagic Shock. Adv Mater. 2022 Nov; 34(47):e2207376. View Abstract

  15. Prediction of impending central-line-associated bloodstream infections in hospitalized cardiac patients: development and testing of a machine-learning model. J Hosp Infect. 2022 Sep; 127:44-50. View Abstract

  16. A microfluidic device for real-time on-demand intravenous oxygen delivery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 03 29; 119(13):e2115276119. View Abstract

  17. Safety of Prolonged Inhalation of Hydrogen Gas in Air in Healthy Adults. Crit Care Explor. 2021 Oct; 3(10):e543. View Abstract

  18. Modeling severe functional impairment or death following ECPR in pediatric cardiac patients: Planning for an interventional trial. Resuscitation. 2021 10; 167:12-21. View Abstract

  19. Development of Care Curves Following the Stage 1 Palliation: A Comparison of Intensive Care Among 5 Centers. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 06; 10(11):e019396. View Abstract

  20. Commentary: Hydrogen: Lightweight molecule takes on a heavyweight problem. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 12; 164(6):e286-e287. View Abstract

  21. Avoidable Serum Potassium Testing in the Cardiac ICU: Development and Testing of a Machine-Learning Model. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 04 01; 22(4):392-400. View Abstract

  22. Socioeconomic and Racial and/or Ethnic Disparities in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Pediatrics. 2021 05; 147(5). View Abstract

  23. Shock Index, Coronary Perfusion Pressure, and Rate Pressure Product As Predictors of Adverse Outcome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 01 01; 22(1):e67-e78. View Abstract

  24. Vein of Galen Malformation. Neoreviews. 2020 10; 21(10):e678-e686. View Abstract

  25. Sensitivity of a Next-Generation NIRS Device to Detect Low Mixed Venous Oxyhemoglobin Saturations in the Single Ventricle Population. Anesth Analg. 2020 09; 131(3):e138-e141. View Abstract

  26. Hyperbaric polymer microcapsules for tunable oxygen delivery. J Control Release. 2020 11 10; 327:420-428. View Abstract

  27. Value of provocative electrophysiology testing in the management of pediatric patients after congenital heart surgery. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2020 09; 43(9):901-907. View Abstract

  28. WITHDRAWN: Complete Heart Block, Severe Ventricular Dysfunction and Myocardial Inflammation in a Child with COVID-19 Infection. JACC Case Rep. 2020 May 27. View Abstract

  29. Complete Heart Block, Severe Ventricular Dysfunction, and Myocardial Inflammation in a Child With COVID-19 Infection. JACC Case Rep. 2020 Jul 15; 2(9):1351-1355. View Abstract

  30. Red Blood Cell Transfusion After Stage I Palliation Is Associated With Worse Clinical Outcomes. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 05 18; 9(10):e015304. View Abstract

  31. Development of a Respiratory Support Score as a Visualization Tool in Intensive Care. Respir Care. 2020 Sep; 65(9):1268-1275. View Abstract

  32. Impact of the superior cavopulmonary anastomosis on cerebral oxygenation. Cardiol Young. 2020 Apr; 30(4):585-587. View Abstract

  33. Value of Troponin Testing for Detection of Heart Disease in Previously Healthy Children. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 02 18; 9(4):e012897. View Abstract

  34. Fontan with lateral tunnel is associated with improved survival compared with extracardiac conduit. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 04; 159(4):1480-1491.e2. View Abstract

  35. Safety of inhaled hydrogen gas in healthy mice. Med Gas Res. 2019 Jul-Sep; 9(3):133-138. View Abstract

  36. Perioperatively Inhaled Hydrogen Gas Diminishes Neurologic Injury Following Experimental Circulatory Arrest in Swine. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2019 Apr; 4(2):176-187. View Abstract

  37. Reply to Li, J "The Fick principle remains accurate to calculate cardiac output under hyperoxia". Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019 07; 63(6):828. View Abstract

  38. Intravenous Amiodarone and Sotalol Impair Contractility and Cardiac Output, but Procainamide Does Not: A Langendorff Study. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2019 05; 24(3):288-297. View Abstract

  39. Tunable Nonlinear Acoustic Reporters Using Micro- and Nanosized Air Bubbles with Porous Polymeric Hard Shells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 Jan 09; 11(1):7-12. View Abstract

  40. Injectable Oxygen: Interfacing Materials Chemistry with Resuscitative Science. Chemistry. 2018 Dec 17; 24(71):18820-18829. View Abstract

  41. Physiologic effects of delayed sternal closure following stage 1 palliation. Cardiol Young. 2018 Dec; 28(12):1393-1403. View Abstract

  42. Changes in tissue oxygen tension, venous saturation, and Fick-based assessments of cardiac output during hyperoxia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2019 01; 63(1):93-100. View Abstract

  43. Tunable Polymer Microcapsules for Controlled Release of Therapeutic Gases. Langmuir. 2018 08 07; 34(31):9175-9183. View Abstract

  44. A Device for the Quantification of Oxygen Consumption and Caloric Expenditure in the Neonatal Range. Anesth Analg. 2018 07; 127(1):95-104. View Abstract

  45. Impact of a Composite Valved RV-PA Graft After Stage 1 Palliation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 11; 106(5):1452-1459. View Abstract

  46. An anticoagulation protocol for use after congenital cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 07; 156(1):343-352.e4. View Abstract

  47. Partial thromboplastin time is more predictive of bleeding than anti-Xa levels in heparinized pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 07; 156(1):332-340.e1. View Abstract

  48. Use of Oxyhemoglobin Saturation or Oxygen Tension-an Unsolved Question-Reply. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 04 01; 172(4):390-391. View Abstract

  49. Interfacial Nanoprecipitation toward Stable and Responsive Microbubbles and Their Use as a Resuscitative Fluid. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 01 26; 57(5):1271-1276. View Abstract

  50. Measurement of Dead Space Fraction Upon ICU Admission Predicts Length of Stay and Clinical Outcomes Following Bidirectional Cavopulmonary Anastomosis. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018 01; 19(1):23-31. View Abstract

  51. Use of Oxyhemoglobin Saturation, Rather Than Oxygen Tension, as a Marker of Oxygenation in Cyanotic Patients. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 10 01; 171(10):1012-1014. View Abstract

  52. Responsive monitoring of mitochondrial redox states in heart muscle predicts impending cardiac arrest. Sci Transl Med. 2017 Sep 20; 9(408). View Abstract

  53. Hemodynamic Effects of Lipid-Based Oxygen Microbubbles via Rapid Intravenous Injection in Rodents. Pharm Res. 2017 Oct; 34(10):2156-2162. View Abstract

  54. Cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy insensitively detects low cerebral venous oxygen saturations after stage 1 palliation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 09; 154(3):1056-1062. View Abstract

  55. Accuracy of Oxygen Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Elimination Measurements in 2 Breath-by-Breath Devices. Respir Care. 2017 Apr; 62(4):475-480. View Abstract

  56. Reply to Span et al.: Rational design of oxygen microparticles for radiation therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 12 13; 113(50):E8010. View Abstract

  57. 191: QUANTIFYING ICU SUPPORT IN THE CONTEXT OF DISEASE-MATCHED PATIENTS OVER TIME USING PERCENTILE CURVES. Crit Care Med. 2016 Dec; 44(12 Suppl 1):125. View Abstract

  58. 450: SUBOPTIMAL PROTEIN INTAKE MAY PROLONG CICU LENGTH OF STAY AND WORSEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN CHILDREN. Crit Care Med. 2016 Dec; 44(12 Suppl 1):189. View Abstract

  59. 462: BEDSIDE VCO2 AS A GUIDE TO INDIVIDUALIZED ENERGY PRESCRIPTION IN VENTILATED CHILDREN IN THE CICU. Crit Care Med. 2016 Dec; 44(12 Suppl 1):192. View Abstract

  60. Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor-Based Vasodilation Improves Oxygen Delivery and Clinical Outcomes Following Stage 1 Palliation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016 11 02; 5(11). View Abstract

  61. Oxygen delivery using engineered microparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 11 01; 113(44):12380-12385. View Abstract

  62. Rodent Working Heart Model for the Study of Myocardial Performance and Oxygen Consumption. J Vis Exp. 2016 08 16; (114). View Abstract

  63. Effects of commonly used inotropes on myocardial function and oxygen consumption under constant ventricular loading conditions. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 07 01; 121(1):7-14. View Abstract

  64. Neosaxitoxin in Rat Sciatic Block: Improved Therapeutic Index Using Combinations with Bupivacaine, with and without Epinephrine. Anesthesiology. 2015 Oct; 123(4):886-98. View Abstract

  65. The effects of lung recruitment maneuvers on exhaled breath condensate pH. J Breath Res. 2015 Sep 03; 9(3):036009. View Abstract

  66. Manufacture of concentrated, lipid-based oxygen microbubble emulsions by high shear homogenization and serial concentration. J Vis Exp. 2014 May 26; (87). View Abstract

  67. Optimization and characterization of stable lipid-based, oxygen-filled microbubbles by mixture design. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2014 Aug; 102(6):1148-56. View Abstract

  68. Bulk manufacture of concentrated oxygen gas-filled microparticles for intravenous oxygen delivery. Adv Healthc Mater. 2013 Aug; 2(8):1131-41. View Abstract

  69. Comparison of 2 lung recruitment strategies in children with acute lung injury. Respir Care. 2013 Aug; 58(8):1280-90. View Abstract

  70. Reversal of dependent lung collapse predicts response to lung recruitment in children with early acute lung injury. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2012 Sep; 13(5):509-15. View Abstract

  71. Oxygen gas-filled microparticles provide intravenous oxygen delivery. Sci Transl Med. 2012 Jun 27; 4(140):140ra88. View Abstract

  72. Respiratory, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular effects of neosaxitoxin in isoflurane-anesthetized sheep. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2012 Mar-Apr; 37(2):152-8. View Abstract

  73. Phospholipid-stabilized microbubble foam for injectable oxygen delivery. Langmuir. 2010 Oct 19; 26(20):15726-9. View Abstract

  74. Neuropathology of a fatal case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2010 Sep-Oct; 13(5):397-403. View Abstract

  75. Implementation of a medical emergency team in a large pediatric teaching hospital prevents respiratory and cardiopulmonary arrests outside the intensive care unit. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2007 May; 8(3):236-46; quiz 247. View Abstract

Caring for critically ill patients and their families is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. A responsibility because there is nothing more precious to a human being than their child, and a privilege because I consider it an honor to walk along side families during such trying times. The ICU can be an imposing place to be, with many caregivers to get to know and a sick child. My goal is to provide expertise, love and support to patients and their families in real time, and also to look for ways to make the care we provide better in the future.

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