Steven Pfau, MD
Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2024
Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Utility of Coronary Angiography Versus Coronary Function Testing in Women With Angina and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries.
Cigarroa N, Latif N, Maayah M, Khokhar A, Kunnirickal S, Schwann A, Maciejewski K, Odanovic N, Mazure C, Spatz E, Pfau S, Lansky A, Shah S. Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Utility of Coronary Angiography Versus Coronary Function Testing in Women With Angina and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2024, 13: e035852. PMID: 39291500, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.035852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCoronary function testingNonobstructive coronary arteriesInvasive coronary angiographyCoronary microvascular dysfunctionCoronary angiographyVasomotor disordersFunction testsCoronary arteryAntianginal therapyDiagnostic yieldVasospastic anginaMicrovascular dysfunctionDiagnostic yield of invasive coronary angiographyNonobstructive coronary artery diseaseSuspected ischemic heart diseaseCalcium channel blockersCoronary vasomotor disordersSymptomatic myocardial bridgingCoronary artery diseaseIschemic heart diseaseChannel blockersAnatomic diagnosisEndothelial dysfunctionArtery diseaseMyocardial bridgingReal-World Experience and Outcomes With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Protected Versus Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Insights from the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program
Gonzalez P, Hebbe A, Hussain Y, Khera R, Banerjee S, Plomondon M, Waldo S, Pfau S, Curtis J, Shah S. Real-World Experience and Outcomes With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Protected Versus Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Insights from the Veteran Affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking Program. The American Journal Of Cardiology 2024, 222: 39-50. PMID: 38677666, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2024.04.039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchULM percutaneous coronary interventionPercutaneous coronary interventionPropensity-matched cohortMyocardial infarctionCoronary interventionAll-cause mortalityTracking programUS clinical practiceOne-year MACEOne-year outcomesIncidence of rehospitalizationAdverse cardiovascular eventsUnprotected left main coronary artery diseaseAcute coronary syndromeCoronary artery diseaseRates of MIMechanical circulatory supportLeft main percutaneous coronary interventionPCI patientsUrgent revascularizationPractice patternsCart programLeft main bifurcationPrimary outcomeMatched cohort
2023
Use of telemedicine facilitated by trained telepresenters to manage advanced peripheral artery disease in rural areas
Breen T, Peake J, Keefe H, Moran J, Kunjukutty F, Pfau S, Altin S. Use of telemedicine facilitated by trained telepresenters to manage advanced peripheral artery disease in rural areas. Vascular Medicine 2023, 28: 239-240. PMID: 36628596, DOI: 10.1177/1358863x221148797.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
Use of a Novel Catheter, the MOT-C, for Selective Angiography of the Internal Mammary Artery From Ipsilateral Radial Access.
Kunnirickal S, Pfau S, Moran E, Shah S. Use of a Novel Catheter, the MOT-C, for Selective Angiography of the Internal Mammary Artery From Ipsilateral Radial Access. Journal Of Invasive Cardiology 2022, 34: e408-e411. PMID: 35394451, DOI: 10.25270/jic/21.00233.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBypass angiographyInternal mammary arteryContrast volumeFemoral accessRadial accessMammary arteryNovel catheterIpsilateral radial accessLower contrast useCatheter-related complicationsSignificant differencesIMA graftsArtery catheterDiagnostic angiographySelective angiographyDiagnostic angiogramContrast useAngiographyCatheterArteryMinimal manipulationChest pain and coronary endothelial dysfunction after recovery from COVID‐19: A case series
Shah SM, Odanovic N, Kunnirickal S, Feher A, Pfau SE, Spatz ES. Chest pain and coronary endothelial dysfunction after recovery from COVID‐19: A case series. Clinical Case Reports 2022, 10: e05612. PMID: 35425611, PMCID: PMC8991764, DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.5612.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesImplementation of supervised exercise therapy in a veteran population with symptomatic claudication
Altin S, Schneider MD, Parise H, Banerjee S, Wu WC, Meadows JL, Pfau S, Keefe H, Armstrong EJ. Implementation of supervised exercise therapy in a veteran population with symptomatic claudication. Vascular Medicine 2022, 27: 136-141. PMID: 35225695, DOI: 10.1177/1358863x211073622.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExercise treadmill testingExercise therapyMetabolic equivalentsIntermittent claudicationExercise capacityTreadmill testingAnkle-brachial indexIntermittent claudication symptomsMale veteran patientsSupervised exercise therapySymptomatic intermittent claudicationVascular specialty clinicsLow patient adherenceClaudication symptomsSymptomatic claudicationExercise groupVeteran patientsPatient adherenceRisk stratificationTherapy referralSpecialty clinicProvider awarenessVeteran populationClaudicationTherapy
2021
FEASIBILITY OF TELEMEDICINE IN THE EVALUATION OF CHRONIC LIMB THREATENING ISCHEMIA IN VETERANS
Altin S, Pfau S, Dominguez Y, Kunjukutty F, Keefe H. FEASIBILITY OF TELEMEDICINE IN THE EVALUATION OF CHRONIC LIMB THREATENING ISCHEMIA IN VETERANS. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2021, 77: 1849. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(21)03205-8.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
The Foundational Role of Cardiovascular Imaging in the Characterization of Mental Stress–Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Meadows JL, Shah S, Burg MM, Pfau S, Soufer R. The Foundational Role of Cardiovascular Imaging in the Characterization of Mental Stress–Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. Current Cardiology Reports 2020, 22: 162. PMID: 33037938, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-020-01407-w.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsCoronary artery diseaseArtery diseaseMyocardial ischemiaMental Stress–Induced Myocardial IschemiaNon-obstructive coronary artery diseaseStable coronary artery diseaseHalf of patientsEpicardial coronary stenosisMental stress testingMyocardial oxygen demandUnderstanding of pathophysiologyCoronary macroAnginal symptomsCardiac eventsAdverse prognosisEarly mortalityIschemic phenomenaCoronary perfusionCoronary stenosisCoronary microvasculatureInvasive studiesClinical careMyocardial perfusionStress-mediated changesCardiac responseEffects of Psychological Stress on Vascular Physiology: Beyond the Current Imaging Signal
Shah SM, Meadows JL, Burg MM, Pfau S, Soufer R. Effects of Psychological Stress on Vascular Physiology: Beyond the Current Imaging Signal. Current Cardiology Reports 2020, 22: 156. PMID: 33037500, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-020-01406-x.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsPsychological stressCardiovascular diseaseMental stress-induced myocardial ischemiaStress-induced myocardial ischemiaMental stressVascular smooth muscleMental stress effectsVascular systemCardiovascular imaging modalitiesEntire vascular systemCardiovascular manifestationsVascular effectsMicrovascular resistanceMicrovascular responsesVascular changesVascular mechanismsVascular responsesCardiovascular responsesMyocardial ischemiaLong-term consequencesSmooth muscleMicrovascular compartmentTherapeutic interventionsReviewThis reviewStandardized psychological assessmentsCardiovascular Imaging of Biology and Emotion
Meadows JL, Shah S, Burg MM, Pfau S, Soufer R. Cardiovascular Imaging of Biology and Emotion. Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging 2020, 13: e011054. PMID: 32762255, PMCID: PMC9261020, DOI: 10.1161/circimaging.120.011054.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsMental stressEpicardial coronary artery diseaseCoronary artery diseaseExercise-induced changesMicrovascular dysfunctionArtery diseaseObstructive diseaseClinical manifestationsVascular responsesCentral activationCardiovascular healthPathophysiologic changesCardiovascular responsesMyocardial ischemiaPeripheral vasculatureTreatment targetsVascular pathophysiologyPsychosocial determinantsCardiovascular imagingPsychosocial experiencesImplementation studyMS testingTriggers activationCardiovascular biologyDisease
Clinical Care
Overview
Steven Pfau, MD, specializes in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology. He serves as the cardiology section chief at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Connecticut Healthcare System.
In his clinical practice, Dr. Pfau addresses a range of cardiovascular conditions, including ventricular tachycardia, atherosclerosis, and peripheral artery disease. He is skilled in procedures such as percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy and vascular and endovascular surgery.
Dr. Pfau's research interests include coronary artery disease and ischemia, invasive coronary function testing and angiography, telemedicine and peripheral artery disease, endothelial dysfunction and COVID-19, and exercise therapy in vascular diseases. His work explores heart and blood vessel conditions, the effects of COVID-19 on chest pain and blood vessel function, and the use of supervised exercise therapy for veterans suffering from leg pain due to poor blood circulation.
Dr. Pfau has been recognized by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for his research.
Dr. Pfau is a professor of medicine in cardiovascular medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.
Clinical Specialties
Cardiovascular Medicine; Interventional Cardiology
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Board Certifications
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 1989
Yale Medicine News
News
News
- June 24, 2024
What Causes the Aging Process?
- February 01, 2023
2023 American College of Cardiology late-breaking clinical trials and abstracts from Yale
- March 06, 2022
Through the VA Connecticut Clinical Resource Hub, Yale Clinicians Provide Specialty Care to Communities Where It Is Scarce or Unavailable
- January 26, 2022
American College of Cardiology 71st Annual Scientific Session & Expo sessions announced