Kelsey Gray, MD
Assistant Professor, Cardiac SurgeryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Diaphragm dysfunction from phrenic nerve injuries during LVAD or heart transplant: Positive role of diaphragm pacing
Boutros C, Elmo M, Carl N, Abu-Omar Y, Arora R, Elgudin Y, Gray K, Pelletier M, Onders R. Diaphragm dysfunction from phrenic nerve injuries during LVAD or heart transplant: Positive role of diaphragm pacing. JHLT Open 2025, 9: 100281. PMID: 40520816, PMCID: PMC12166398, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhlto.2025.100281.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-invasive ventilationLeft ventricular assist deviceDiaphragm pacingHeart transplantationMechanical ventilationNerve injurySingle-center cohort studyPhrenic nerve dysfunctionPhrenic nerve injuryLeft ventricular assist device recipientsPhrenic injuryDiaphragm dysfunctionDifficulty weaningNerve dysfunctionNerve injuresCase seriesDiaphragm functionMV weaningDP useAdverse eventsCohort studyVentricular assist deviceHTxExploratory case seriesTransplantation
2024
Randomized study of temporary diaphragm pacing for enhanced recovery after surgery in cardiac surgery patients at risk of prolonged mechanical ventilation
Hungate J, Onders R, Diasty M, Abu-Omar Y, Arora R, Baeza C, Elgudin Y, Gray K, Markowitz A, Pelletier M, Ribeiro I, Vega P, Rushing G, Sabik J. Randomized study of temporary diaphragm pacing for enhanced recovery after surgery in cardiac surgery patients at risk of prolonged mechanical ventilation. JTCVS Open 2024, 22: 76-84. PMID: 39780786, PMCID: PMC11704535, DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2024.09.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProlonged mechanical ventilationStandard of care groupRisk of prolonged mechanical ventilationMechanical ventilationCardiac surgeryDiaphragmatic pacingDiaphragm pacingTreatment groupsRandomized trialsHistory of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseLeft ventricular ejection fractionIntra-aortic balloon pumpDecrease mechanical ventilationCardiac surgery patientsVentricular ejection fractionHigh-risk patientsMulticenter randomized trialCare groupEnhanced recoveryChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseRelative risk reductionIntensive care unitStandard of carePredictive enrichment strategiesObstructive pulmonary disease
2022
Surgical Repair vs Stent for Esophageal Perforation: A Multi-institutional Database Analysis
Gray K, Sarode A, Jiang B, Alvarado C, Sinopoli J, Linden P, Worrell S, Ho V, Argote-Greene L, Towe C. Surgical Repair vs Stent for Esophageal Perforation: A Multi-institutional Database Analysis. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2022, 115: 1378-1384. PMID: 35921860, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.07.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEsophageal perforationSurgical repairEsophageal stentIndependent predictorsHospital lengthOutcomes of surgical repairIndependent predictors of deathEndoscopic esophageal stentingHospital length of stayPredictors of deathPremier Healthcare DatabaseLogistic regressionMulti-institutional studyDay of admissionLength of stayComposite outcomePatientsEsophagealStentPerforationComorbiditiesAdult inpatientsHealthcare databasesElixhauser comorbiditiesDeathFactors influencing quality of lymphadenectomy in minimally invasive esophagectomy: a US-based analysis
Odetoyinbo K, Bachman K, Worrell S, Gray K, Linden P, Towe C. Factors influencing quality of lymphadenectomy in minimally invasive esophagectomy: a US-based analysis. Diseases Of The Esophagus 2022, 35: doab093. PMID: 35039833, DOI: 10.1093/dote/doab093.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMinimally Invasive EsophagectomyAssociated with adequate lymphadenectomyAdequate lymphadenectomyLymph nodesAcademic centersNodal diseaseOverall survivalInvasive esophagectomyNCCN guidelinesPresence of clinical nodal diseasePresence of nodal diseaseInstitutional volumeClinical nodal diseaseNational Cancer DatabaseKaplan-Meier methodQuality of lymphadenectomyGuideline-based recommendationsPrivate insurance statusUS-based analysisRank sum testMetastatic diseasePrimary endpointCancer DatabaseLymphadenectomyEsophagectomy
2021
Robotic Approach Has Improved Outcomes for Minimally Invasive Resection of Mediastinal Tumors
Alvarado C, Worrell S, Bachman K, Jiang B, Janko M, Gray K, Argote-Greene L, Linden P, Towe C. Robotic Approach Has Improved Outcomes for Minimally Invasive Resection of Mediastinal Tumors. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2021, 113: 1853-1858. PMID: 34217691, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2021.05.090.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRobotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgeryVideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgeryMinimally invasive resectionResection of mediastinal tumorsMinimally invasive surgical approachComposite adverse outcomeMediastinal tumorInvasive surgical approachSurgical approachAdverse outcomesLength of stayOverall survivalThoracoscopic surgeryAssociated with fewer conversionsAdverse composite outcomePositive pathologic marginsNational Cancer DatabaseTumors 4 cmOutcomes of resectionComposite adverse eventsAdverse perioperative outcomesMultivariate logistic regressionShorter length of stayPathologic marginsPositive marginsWedge Resection Offers Similar Survival to Segmentectomy for Typical Carcinoid Tumors
Bachman K, Worrell S, Linden P, Gray K, Argote-Greene L, Towe C. Wedge Resection Offers Similar Survival to Segmentectomy for Typical Carcinoid Tumors. Seminars In Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2021, 34: 293-298. PMID: 33711461, DOI: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2021.03.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBronchopulmonary carcinoid tumorsPositive margin statusWedge resectionCarcinoid tumorsBronchopulmonary carcinoidsNode statusLymph nodesMargin statusPositive lymph node statusParenchymal-sparing resectionPathological node statusKaplan-Meier survival analysisLymph node statusNational Cancer DatabaseAnatomical lung resectionShort-term outcomesLong-term survivalLength of staySegmentectomy patientsSublobar resectionOverall survivalExcellent prognosisLung resectionTumor sizeCancer Database
2020
Does Timing of Robotic Esophagectomy Adoption Impact Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes?
Hue J, Bachman K, Gray K, Linden P, Worrell S, Towe C. Does Timing of Robotic Esophagectomy Adoption Impact Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes? Journal Of Surgical Research 2020, 260: 220-228. PMID: 33360305, DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.11.077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDatabases, FactualEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophagectomyFemaleHumansLength of StayLymph Node ExcisionMaleMargins of ExcisionMiddle AgedOutcome Assessment, Health CarePatient ReadmissionPostoperative ComplicationsRobotic Surgical ProceduresTime FactorsUnited StatesConceptsRobotic esophagectomyLength of stayPostoperative outcomesLymph nodesRate of positive marginsShort-term postoperative outcomesEsophagectomy volumeNational Cancer DatabaseLymph node harvestOutcomes of esophagectomyShort-term outcomesPositive marginsCancer DatabaseNode harvestAdoption of robotic techniquesEsophagectomyOpen approachLymphSuperior outcomesRobotic techniquesConfounding factorsSurgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in clinical N3 esophageal cancer results in improved survival: a propensity-matched analysis
Alvarado C, Worrell S, Bachman K, Gray K, Perry Y, Linden P, Towe C. Surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in clinical N3 esophageal cancer results in improved survival: a propensity-matched analysis. Diseases Of The Esophagus 2020, 34: doaa118. PMID: 33341903, DOI: 10.1093/dote/doaa118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeoadjuvant chemoradiotherapyOverall survivalCN3 diseaseChemoradiation therapyNodal metastasisEsophageal cancerPoor outcomeAssociated with worse survivalInclusion criteriaAdvanced nodal diseasePoor outcome of patientsNeoadjuvant chemoradiation therapyNational Cancer DatabaseOutcomes of patientsEsophageal cancer patientsBenefits of surgeryPredictors of survivalAdvanced nodal metastasisPropensity-matched analysisClinical N3Nodal diseaseLymphovascular invasionSurgery cohortSurgery groupWorse survivalRobotic minimally invasive esophagectomy provides superior surgical resection
Ali A, Bachman K, Worrell S, Gray K, Perry Y, Linden P, Towe C. Robotic minimally invasive esophagectomy provides superior surgical resection. Surgical Endoscopy 2020, 35: 6329-6334. PMID: 33174098, DOI: 10.1007/s00464-020-08120-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMinimally Invasive EsophagectomyRate of positive marginsNational Cancer DatabaseAssociated with lower riskCohort of patientsAssociated with superior ratesShort-term outcomesLength of hospitalizationInvasive esophagectomyLymph nodesPositive marginsAdequate lymphadenectomyCancer DatabaseAdvanced clinical T stagePositive surgical margin statusPrimary outcomePositive surgical margin rateLow risk of conversionMinimally invasive esophagectomy techniquesClinical nodal involvementMean lymph nodesClinical T stageSurgical margin rateSurgical margin statusOutcomes of patientsOutcomes of robotic esophagectomies for esophageal cancer by hospital volume: an analysis of the national cancer database
Hue J, Bachman K, Worrell S, Gray K, Linden P, Towe C. Outcomes of robotic esophagectomies for esophageal cancer by hospital volume: an analysis of the national cancer database. Surgical Endoscopy 2020, 35: 3802-3810. PMID: 32789587, DOI: 10.1007/s00464-020-07875-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseLength of stayRobotic esophagectomyOverall survivalCancer DatabaseLymph nodesMethodsThe National Cancer DatabaseRate of positive marginsAssociated with poor survivalMedian overall survivalMinimally Invasive EsophagectomyNinety-day mortalityAdvanced tumor stageMultivariate Cox regressionHigh-volume institutionsUnplanned readmissionLong-term outcomesAssociated with superior outcomesLow-volume hospitalsPreoperative chemotherapyPreoperative radiationNodal stagingPositive marginsTumor stageInvasive esophagectomy
Clinical Care
Overview
Kelsey Gray, MD, the director of cardiothoracic transplant at Yale New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, is a cardiac surgeon who specializes in cardiac surgery and heart transplant surgery. She diagnoses and treats heart conditions that may require surgical interventions, including issues related to the heart’s structure and function. Dr. Gray offers surgical procedures and explains them in layman's terms.
As an assistant professor of cardiac surgery at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Gray conducts research focused on improving surgery and transplant techniques.
Dr. Gray completed her medical training at the University of Washington School of Medicine and pursued a general surgery residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, followed by a cardiac surgery fellowship at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University.
Clinical Specialties
Board Certifications
Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Thoracic Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 2023
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Cardiac Surgery
330 Cedar Street, PO BOX 208039
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
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