Saverio La Francesca, M.D.

Visiting Associate Professor

Biography

Dr. Saverio La Francesca received his graduate degree at the University of Rome in 1985. He trained at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston under the supervision of Dr. Denton Cooley from 1991 to 1994. He trained in Lung transplant in Montreal and also trained in aortic surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine with Dr. Joseph Coselli. He became Associate Professor at the University of Rome in June 2000 where he was also the Chief of the Cardiovascular Circulatory support Service. He joined the Thoracic Transplant and Mechanical Support Service directed by Dr. OH Frazier at the Texas Heart Institute in July 2008. This is one of the busiest program in the United States having a large group of patients being supported by mechanical devices either as a permanent therapy or as a bridge to heart transplantation. He is a certified surgeon for the implant of the Novacor, HeartMate and Jarvik 2000 artificial pumps. Dr. La Francesca’s publications reflect his long lasting involvement in the field of organ transplantation and replacement. His other interests include aortic surgery and minimally invasive cardiovascular techniques.

Publications

Gregoric ID, Cohn WE, Akay MH, La Francesca S, Myers T, Frazier OH.CentriMag left ventricular assist system: cannulation through a right minithoracotomy.Tex Heart Inst J. 2008;35(2):184-5.

Gregoric ID, Jacob LP, La Francesca S, Bruckner BA, Cohn WE, Loyalka P, Kar B, Frazier OH.The TandemHeart as a bridge to a long-term axial-flow left ventricular assist device (bridge to bridge).Tex Heart Inst J. 2008;35(2):125-9.

Gregoric ID, Bruckner BA, Jacob L, Kar B, Cohn WE, La Francesca S, Frazier OH.Clinical experience with sternotomy versus subcostal approach for exchange of theHeartMate XVE to the HeartMate II ventricular assist device.Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 May;85(5):1646-9.

Gregoric ID, La Francesca S, Myers T, Cohn W, Loyalka P, Kar B, Gemmato C,Frazier OH. A less invasive approach to axial flow pump insertion.J Heart Lung Transplant. 2008 Apr;27(4):423-6.

Gregoric ID, Palanichamy N, La Francesca S, Smith RD, Myers TJ. Simultaneous insertion of a left ventricular assist system and repair of an ascending aortic dissection. Tex Heart Inst J. 2007;34(4):463-5.

Palanichamy N, Letsou GV, Cohn W, La Francesca S, Kar B, Gregoric ID. High cardiac output due to fistula after cardiac transplantation. Congest Heart Fail. 2007 Jul-Aug;13(4):237-9.

La Francesca S, Gregoric ID, Cohn WE, Frazier OH. Successful resection of a primary left ventricular schwannoma. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 May;83(5):1881-2.

Gregoric ID, Myers TJ, Kar B, Loyalka P, Reverdin S, La Francesca S, Odegaard P, Gemmato CJ, Frazier OH. Management of air embolism during HeartMate XVE exchange. Tex Heart Inst J. 2007;34(1):19-22.

Cohn WE, Gregoric ID, La Francesca S, Frazier OH. Bedside right ventricular assist device removal in the conscious patient. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 Apr;83(4):1556-7.

Myers TJ, Palanichamy N, La Francesca S, Odegaard PA, Gregoric ID, Frazier OH. Management of multiple left ventricular assist device failures in a patient.J Heart Lung Transplant. 2007 Jan;26(1):98-100.

La Francesca S, Palanichamy N, Kar B, Gregoric ID. First use of the TandemHeart percutaneous left ventricular assist device as a short-term bridge to cardiac transplantation. Tex Heart Inst J. 2006;33(4):490-1.

La Francesca S, Smith R, Gregoric ID, Kar B, Myers TJ, Price J, Kennedy D, Frazier OH.
Replacement of a malfunctioning HeartMate II left ventricular assist device in a 14-year-old after a sudden fall. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Jul;25(7):862-4.

Palanichamy N, Gregoric ID, La Francesca S, Smart FW. Mycotic pseudo-aneurysm of the ascending thoracic aorta after cardiac transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006 Jun;25(6):730-3. Epub 2006 May 2.

Gregoric ID, Kosir R, Smart FW, Messner GN, Patel VS, La Francesca S, Cervera RD, Frazier OH. Left ventricular assist device implantation in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. Tex Heart Inst J. 2005;32(4):567-9.

Gregoric ID, Harting MT, Kosir R, Patel VS, Ksela J, Messner GN, La Francesca S, Frazier OH.
Percutaneous tracheostomy after mechanical ventricular assist device implantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2005 Oct;24(10):1513-6.

Ruvolo G, Fattouch K, Sinatra R, La Francesca S, Macrina F, Tonelli E, Masciangelo R, Marino B. Factors influencing immediate and long-term results after button's technique. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2002 Jun;43(3):337-43.

Monti F, Iwashiro K, Picard S, Criniti A, La Francesca S, Ruvolo G, Papalia U, Campa PP, Marino B, Puddu PE. Adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channel modulation and cardioplegia-induced protection of human atrial muscle in an in vitro model of myocardial stunning. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000 Apr;119(4 Pt 1):842-8.

Coselli JS, Plestis KA, La Francesca S, Cohen S. Results of contemporary surgical treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: experience in 198 patients. Ann Vasc Surg. 1996 Mar;10(2):131-7.

La Francesca S, Frazier OH, Radovancevic B, De Caro LF, Reul GJ, Cooley DA. Concomitant cardiac and pulmonary operations for lung cancer. Tex Heart Inst J. 1995;22(4):296-300.

La Francesca S, Ruvolo G, Greco E, Speziale G, Marino B. Left thoracotomy for coronary revascularization after esophagoplasty with substernal colon interposition. Tex Heart Inst J. 1995;22(2):200-1.

La Francesca S, Shennib H. Coronary artery revascularization followed by single-lung transplantation in a patient with combined end-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and left main coronary artery stenosis. Tex Heart Inst J. 1995;22(2):189-91.