Dr. Sako obtained his medical degree from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1982 and obtained his PhD in 1991. He is Board Certified in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. He trained in General Surgery at the University of Minnesota and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Michigan. He joined us in 1992 and is a Professor and the J. Kent Trinkle Chair of Thoracic Surgery. He also serves as the Vice Chair for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University Health System.
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Education:
MD, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, 1978 – 1982
PhD, University of Minnesota Graduate School (Surgery), 1991
Postgraduate training:
Surgery, University of Minnesota Hospitals, 1982 – 1990
Thoracic Surgery, University of Michigan, 1990 – 1992
Research interests
Interest in outcomes oriented research has led to participation at the investigator level in a number of national, multi-center cooperative trials. This includes being a site investigator for the Veterans Administration cooperative trial of on vs. off pump coronary artery bypass surgery and a role as the chairman of the surgery working group in the BARI 2D trial, a 51-center international study of optimal treatment for diabetics with coronary artery disease. Local studies include examination of the outcomes of patients with dilated cardiomyopathies and secondary mitral regurgitation who undergo mitral valve repair and studies in surgical education.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Sako’s major clinical focus has been in adult cardiac surgery with particular emphasis on mitral valve repair, treatment of mitral disease in the setting of cardiomyopathy and surgical therapy for atrial fibrillation. He also continues to maintain an active role in the lung transplant program.
Selected Publications
Argenziano M, Skipper E, Heimansohn D, Letsou GV, Woo YJ, Kron I, Alexander J, Cleveland J, Kong B, Davidson M, Vassiliades T, Krieger K, Sako E, Tibi P, Galloway A, Foster E, Feldman T, Glower D, Sako EY. Surgical revision after percutaneous mitral repair with the MitraClip device. Ann Thorac Surg 2010 Jan;89(1):72-80.
BARI 2D Study Group, Frye RL, August P, Brooks MM, Hardison RM, Kelsey SF, MacGregor JM, Orchard TJ, Chaitman BR, Genuth SM, Goldberg SH, Hlatky MA, Jones TL, Molitch ME, Nesto RW, Sako EY, Sobel BE. A randomized trial of therapies for type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jun 11;360(24):2503-15. Epub 2009 Jun 7.
Angel LF, Levine DJ, Restrepo MI, Johnson S, Sako E, Carpenter AJ, Calhoon J, Cornell JE, Adams SG, Chisholm GB, Nespral J, Roberson A, Levine SM. Impact of a lung transplantation donor-management protocol on lung donation and recipient outcomes. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol.174, 2006.
Editorial | Article – Reuters Health Info
Johnson SB, Allred AM, Cline AM, Angel LF, Sako EY, Baisden CE, Calhoon JH. Cardiac procedures in lung transplant recipients do not increase mortality in selected patients. Ann Thoracic Surg, 2006; 82:460-4.
Sako EY. Newer Concepts in the Surgical Treatment of Valvular Heart Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep 2004 Mar;6(2):100-5
Shaw Lian R, Sako EY, O’Rourke RA: Is the Enthusiasm Regarding Early Mitral Valve Repair in Asymptomatic Patients with Severe Regurgitation Justified? In: Mitral Valve Disease, Chapter 57, May 2003.
Sako EY, Petrusa Jr ER, Paukert JL. Factors influencing outcome of the American Board of Surgery certifying examination: An observational study. J Surg Research 105:75-80, 2002.
Boyd SY, Sako EY, Trinkle JK, OíRourke RA, Zabalgoitia M. Calculation of Lung Flow Differential After Single-Lung Transplantation: A Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study. TheAmer J Cardio, 87, May 15, 2001.
Homma A, Anzueto A, Peters JI, Susanto I, Sako EY, Zabalgoitia M, Bryan CL, Levine SM. Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressures Estimated by Echocardiogram vs Cardiac Catheterization in Patients Awaiting Lung Transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2001;20: 833-839.
Patterson JE, Peters JI, Calhoon JH, Levine SM, Anzueto A, Al-Abdely H, Sanchez R, Patterson TF, Rech M, Jorgensen JH, Rinaldi MG, Sako EY, Johnson SB, Vincent Speeg V, Glenn A. Halff GA, Trinkle JK: Investigation and Control of Aspergillosis and Other Filamentous Fungal Infections in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients. Transplant Inf Disease 2:22-28, 2000.
Angel L, Cai T, Sako EY, Levine SM. Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Lung Transplant Recipients: Clinical Experience at a Single Center. Annals of Transplantation 5(3), 27-31, 2000.
Levine SM, Angel LF, Anzueto A, Peters J, Susanto I, Sako EY, Bryan C. A Low Incidence of Post-transplant Lymphoprolferative Disorder in 109 Lung Transplant Recipients. Chest, 116(5):1273-1277. November 1999.
Awards
Scene in SA ‘Top Doc’ 2009
Appointment to the Trinkle Chair, Department of Surgery, November 2004
Surgical Education Research Fellowship, The Association for Surgical Education, 1998-1999
“Outstanding Faculty” Award, UTHSCSA School of Medicine, Officers and Members of the Class of 1998
“Center of Excellence” designation, Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 1997
Institute for Basic and Applied Research in Surgery Research Award, 1987
Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Honor Society, 1986
Professional societies
Society of Thoracic Surgeon
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
American College of Surgeons
American College of Chest Physicians
Association of Veterans Administration Surgeons
Association of Academic Surgeons
Texas Surgical Society
Texas Transplant Society
Texas Medical Association
John Alexander Society, University of Michigan
C. Walton and Richard C. Lillehei Surgical Society
Aust Surgical Society, Associate-Faculty Member
Bexar County Medical Society
San Antonio Cardiovascular Society