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Robert Elder, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine (Cardiology); Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program; Director Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program, Pediatric Cardiology

Contact Information

Robert Elder, MD

Mailing Address

  • Pediatric Cardiology

    PO Box 208064

    New Haven, CT 06520-8064

    United States

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Yale Medicine

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Research Summary

Dr. Elder is interested in long term outcomes of adult patients with repaired or palliated congenital heart disease who required surgery as children. In particular, he has focused on the late term effects of the Fontan operation (used commonly as the last stage of palliation for functionally single ventricle patients) and its complex effects on the liver. He also has developed an interest in studying the effects of immune dysfunction following early neonatal thymus removal in patients who required sternotomy for repair of congenital heart disease as children.

Specialized Terms: Long-term outcomes of the Fontan operation; Liver disease associated with congenital heart disease; Immune function in adults with congenital heart disease.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Cardiology; Heart Diseases; Pediatrics; Fontan Procedure

Selected Publications

  • Robotic mitral valve repair in a patient with cardiac dextroversion.Bourdillon A, Elder R, Lalonde M, Steele J, Gruber PJ, Geirsson A. Robotic mitral valve repair in a patient with cardiac dextroversion. JTCVS Techniques 2022, 11: 12-16. PMID: 35169722, PMCID: PMC8828793, DOI: 10.1016/j.xjtc.2021.10.031.
  • Noonan syndrome and pregnancy outcomes.Chow CA, Campbell KH, Chou JC, Elder RW. Noonan syndrome and pregnancy outcomes. Cardiology In The Young 2022, 1-5. PMID: 35034678, DOI: 10.1017/S104795112100514X.
  • Frequency of QTc Interval Prolongation in Children and Adults with Williams Syndrome.Brink BD, Feinn R, Kozel BA, Billington CJ, Liu D, Yu E, Sindhar S, He J, Rouse C, Lampert R, Pober BR, Elder RW. Frequency of QTc Interval Prolongation in Children and Adults with Williams Syndrome. Pediatric Cardiology 2022, 43: 1559-1567. PMID: 35366065, DOI: 10.1007/s00246-022-02883-3.
  • Familial Recurrence Patterns in Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: An International Study.Tortigue M, Nield LE, Karakachoff M, McLeod CJ, Belli E, Babu-Narayan SV, Prigent S, Boet A, Conway M, Elder RW, Ladouceur M, Khairy P, Kowalik E, Kalfa DM, Barron DJ, Mussa S, Hiippala A, Temple J, Abadir S, Le Gloan L, Lachaud M, Sanatani S, Thambo JB, Gronier CG, Amedro P, Vaksmann G, Charbonneau A, Koutbi L, Ovaert C, Houeijeh A, Combes N, Maury P, Duthoit G, Hiel B, Erickson CC, Bonnet C, Van Hare GF, Dina C, Karsenty C, Fournier E, Le Bloa M, Pass RH, Liberman L, Happonen JM, Perry JC, Romefort B, Benbrik N, Hauet Q, Fraisse A, Gatzoulis MA, Abrams DJ, Dubin AM, Ho SY, Redon R, Bacha EA, Schott JJ, Baruteau AE. Familial Recurrence Patterns in Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: An International Study. Circulation. Genomic And Precision Medicine 2022, 15: e003464. PMID: 35549293, DOI: 10.1161/CIRCGEN.121.003464.
  • A window into portal hemodynamics in adult fontan patients?Simmons MA, Revzin M, To U, Liapakis A, Fahey J, Elder RW. A window into portal hemodynamics in adult fontan patients? International Journal Of Cardiology 2021, 323: 61-64. PMID: 32979426, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.09.047.
  • Hair and skin predict cardiomyopathies: Carvajal and erythrokeratodermia cardiomyopathy syndromes.Sun Q, Wine Lee L, Hall EK, Choate KA, Elder RW. Hair and skin predict cardiomyopathies: Carvajal and erythrokeratodermia cardiomyopathy syndromes. Pediatric Dermatology 2021, 38: 31-38. PMID: 33275305, DOI: 10.1111/pde.14478.
  • Impact of the new heart allocation policy on patients with restrictive, hypertrophic, or congenital cardiomyopathies.Chouairi F, Mullan CW, Sen S, Mori M, Fuery M, Elder RW, Lesse J, Norton K, Clark KA, Miller PE, Mulligan D, Formica R, Rogers JG, Jacoby D, Maulion C, Anwer M, Geirsson A, Desai NR, Ahmad T. Impact of the new heart allocation policy on patients with restrictive, hypertrophic, or congenital cardiomyopathies. PloS One 2021, 16: e0247789. PMID: 33651802, PMCID: PMC7924739, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247789.
  • Cardio-obstetrics: Recognizing and managing cardiovascular complications of pregnancy.Shapero KS, Desai NR, Elder RW, Lipkind HS, Chou JC, Spatz ES. Cardio-obstetrics: Recognizing and managing cardiovascular complications of pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine 2020, 87: 43-52. PMID: 31990654, DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.18137.
  • T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles in Newborns with Congenital Heart Disease.Davey BT, Elder RW, Cloutier MM, Bennett N, Lee JH, Wang Z, Manning A, Doan T, Griffiths M, Perez M, Ahluwalia N, Toro-Salazar OH. T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles in Newborns with Congenital Heart Disease. The Journal Of Pediatrics 2019, 213: 96-102.e2. PMID: 31277900, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.05.061.
  • Surveillance and screening practices of New England congenital cardiologists for patients after the Fontan operation.Davey BT, Toro-Salazar OH, Gauthier N, Valente AM, Elder RW, Wu FM, Berman N, Pollack P, Lee JH, Rathod RH. Surveillance and screening practices of New England congenital cardiologists for patients after the Fontan operation. Congenital Heart Disease 2019, 14: 1013-1023. PMID: 31642600, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12854.
  • Ventricular arrhythmias immediately following transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation: A cause for concern?Simmons MA, Elder RW, Shabanova V, Hellenbrand W, Asnes J. Ventricular arrhythmias immediately following transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation: A cause for concern? Catheterization And Cardiovascular Interventions : Official Journal Of The Society For Cardiac Angiography & Interventions 2018, 91: 920-926. PMID: 29280541, DOI: 10.1002/ccd.27454.
  • Postpartum anticoagulation in women with mechanical heart valves.Irani RA, Santa-Ines A, Elder RW, Lipkind HS, Paidas MJ, Campbell KH. Postpartum anticoagulation in women with mechanical heart valves. International Journal Of Women's Health 2018, 10: 663-670. PMID: 30498374, PMCID: PMC6207249, DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S177547.
  • Evaluation of a Screening Program to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Defects in Newborns.Klausner R, Shapiro ED, Elder RW, Colson E, Loyal J. Evaluation of a Screening Program to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Defects in Newborns. Hospital Pediatrics 2017, 7: 214-218. PMID: 28250095, PMCID: PMC5924700, DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2016-0176.
  • "Frontiers in Fontan failure: A summary of conference proceedings".Hebson C, Book W, Elder RW, Ford R, Jokhadar M, Kanter K, Kogon B, Kovacs AH, Levit RD, Lloyd M, Maher K, Reshamwala P, Rodriguez F, Romero R, Tejada T, Marie Valente A, Veldtman G, McConnell M. "Frontiers in Fontan failure: A summary of conference proceedings". Congenital Heart Disease 2017, 12: 6-16. PMID: 27597140, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12407.
  • Old but not forgotten: Creative use of abandoned epicardial leads after more than 2 decades.Bjorkman K, Clancy JF, Elder RW. Old but not forgotten: Creative use of abandoned epicardial leads after more than 2 decades. HeartRhythm Case Reports 2017, 3: 559-561. PMID: 29296574, PMCID: PMC5741798, DOI: 10.1016/j.hrcr.2017.05.006.
  • Half a Century's Experience With the Superior Cavopulmonary (Classic Glenn) Shunt.Zahr RA, Kirshbom PM, Kopf GS, Sainathan S, Steele MM, Elder RW, Karimi M. Half a Century's Experience With the Superior Cavopulmonary (Classic Glenn) Shunt. The Annals Of Thoracic Surgery 2016, 101: 177-82. PMID: 26603022, DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.08.018.
  • Hypercalcemia in Patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome.Sindhar S, Lugo M, Levin MD, Danback JR, Brink BD, Yu E, Dietzen DJ, Clark AL, Purgert CA, Waxler JL, Elder RW, Pober BR, Kozel BA. Hypercalcemia in Patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome. The Journal Of Pediatrics 2016, 178: 254-260.e4. PMID: 27574996, PMCID: PMC5085847, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.08.027.
  • Clinical Approaches to the Patient with a Failing Fontan Procedure.Elder RW, Wu FM. Clinical Approaches to the Patient with a Failing Fontan Procedure. Current Cardiology Reports 2016, 18: 44. PMID: 27002620, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-016-0716-y.
  • Catheter-measured Hemodynamics of Adult Fontan Circulation: Associations with Adverse Event and End-organ Dysfunctions.Mori M, Hebson C, Shioda K, Elder RW, Kogon BE, Rodriguez FH, Jokhadar M, Book WM. Catheter-measured Hemodynamics of Adult Fontan Circulation: Associations with Adverse Event and End-organ Dysfunctions. Congenital Heart Disease 2016, 11: 589-597. PMID: 26932151, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12345.
  • Superior Mesenteric Arterial Flow Pattern is Associated with Major Adverse Events in Adults with Fontan Circulation.Mori M, Shioda K, Elder RW, Pernetz MA, Rodriguez FH, Rangosch A, Kogon BE, Book WM. Superior Mesenteric Arterial Flow Pattern is Associated with Major Adverse Events in Adults with Fontan Circulation. Pediatric Cardiology 2016, 37: 1013-21. PMID: 27033246, DOI: 10.1007/s00246-016-1382-y.
  • The Changing Epidemiology of Pediatric Endocarditis.Elder RW, Baltimore RS. The Changing Epidemiology of Pediatric Endocarditis. Infectious Disease Clinics Of North America 2015, 29: 513-24. PMID: 26311357, DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.05.004.
  • Risk factors for major adverse events late after Fontan palliation.Elder RW, McCabe NM, Veledar E, Kogon BE, Jokhadar M, Rodriguez FH, McConnell ME, Book WM. Risk factors for major adverse events late after Fontan palliation. Congenital Heart Disease 2015, 10: 159-68. PMID: 25130602, PMCID: PMC4512755, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12212.
  • Immunologic Aging in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: Does Infant Sternotomy Matter?Elder RW, George RP, McCabe NM, Rodriguez Iii FH, Book WM, Mahle WT, Kirk AD. Immunologic Aging in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: Does Infant Sternotomy Matter? Pediatric Cardiology 2015, 36: 1411-6. PMID: 25916315, PMCID: PMC5319831, DOI: 10.1007/s00246-015-1174-9.
  • Modern Incidence of Complete Heart Block in Patients with L-looped Ventricles: Does Univentricular Status Matter?Simmons MA, Rollinson N, Fishberger S, Qin L, Fahey J, Elder RW. Modern Incidence of Complete Heart Block in Patients with L-looped Ventricles: Does Univentricular Status Matter? Congenital Heart Disease 2015, 10: E237-42. PMID: 26077963, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12279.
  • Beyond a broken heart: circulatory dysfunction in the failing Fontan.Mori M, Aguirre AJ, Elder RW, Kashkouli A, Farris AB, Ford RM, Book WM. Beyond a broken heart: circulatory dysfunction in the failing Fontan. Pediatric Cardiology 2014, 35: 569-79. PMID: 24531876, DOI: 10.1007/s00246-014-0881-y.
  • Adult Fontan failure - distinct disease entity.Mori M, Elder RW, Book WM. Adult Fontan failure - distinct disease entity. International Journal Of Cardiology 2014, 177: 650. PMID: 25449472, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.09.177.
  • Features of portal hypertension are associated with major adverse events in Fontan patients: the VAST study.Elder RW, McCabe NM, Hebson C, Veledar E, Romero R, Ford RM, Mahle WT, Kogon BE, Sahu A, Jokhadar M, McConnell ME, Book WM. Features of portal hypertension are associated with major adverse events in Fontan patients: the VAST study. International Journal Of Cardiology 2013, 168: 3764-9. PMID: 23849105, PMCID: PMC3805740, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2013.06.008.
  • A piece of my mind. Learning from improbable longevity.Elder RW. A piece of my mind. Learning from improbable longevity. JAMA 2013, 310: 2041-2. PMID: 24240928, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.276685.
  • Outcomes of the infant Ross procedure for congenital aortic stenosis followed into adolescence.Elder RW, Quaegebeur JM, Bacha EA, Chen JM, Bourlon F, Williams IA. Outcomes of the infant Ross procedure for congenital aortic stenosis followed into adolescence. The Journal Of Thoracic And Cardiovascular Surgery 2013, 145: 1504-11. PMID: 23062969, PMCID: PMC3657341, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.09.004.
  • Hemodynamic phenotype of the failing Fontan in an adult population.Hebson CL, McCabe NM, Elder RW, Mahle WT, McConnell M, Kogon BE, Veledar E, Jokhadar M, Vincent RN, Sahu A, Book WM. Hemodynamic phenotype of the failing Fontan in an adult population. The American Journal Of Cardiology 2013, 112: 1943-7. PMID: 24075283, PMCID: PMC4505550, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.08.023.
  • More on hepatocellular carcinoma after the Fontan procedure.Elder RW, Parekh S, Book WM. More on hepatocellular carcinoma after the Fontan procedure. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2013, 369: 490. PMID: 23902510, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc1306854.
  • "Double whammy": anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage in a patient with scimitar syndrome.Elder RW, Kogon BE, Sahu A. "Double whammy": anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage in a patient with scimitar syndrome. Cardiology In The Young 2013, 23: 738-9. PMID: 23987117, DOI: 10.1017/S1047951113000553.
  • Pulmonary venous obstruction in the atrial switch operation: a forgotten complication.Elder RW, Hellenbrand WE. Pulmonary venous obstruction in the atrial switch operation: a forgotten complication. Pediatric Cardiology 2012, 33: 1183-6. PMID: 22354225, DOI: 10.1007/s00246-012-0241-8.
  • Cerebellar metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in a pediatric patient with complex congenital heart disease.Remy KE, Elder RW, Tsankova NM, Conroy RM. Cerebellar metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in a pediatric patient with complex congenital heart disease. Journal Of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM 2012, 25: 1195-9. PMID: 23329771, DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2012-0162.
  • Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension and hyperthyroidism: a potentially fatal combination.Trapp CM, Elder RW, Gerken AT, Sopher AB, Lerner S, Aranoff GS, Rosenzweig EB. Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension and hyperthyroidism: a potentially fatal combination. The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology And Metabolism 2012, 97: 2217-22. PMID: 22622024, PMCID: PMC3387403, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-1109.
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