DR.

ACS - Pulmonary Hypertension and Critical Care Medical Specialist, AII - Infectious Diseases Affiliatie UvA Medical Specialist, Intensive Care Medicine

Specialization

internist-intensivist

director of residency programm Intensive Care Medicine

Focus of research

My research primarily addresses three key areas in critically ill patients:

  • Enhancing the diagnosis, prediction, and mitigation of complications, as well as optimizing treatment in critically ill patients with coagulopathy.
  • Optimizing transfusion strategies and requirements in critically ill patients.
  • Improving the care of critically ill hematologic-oncologic patients.

I employ a range of diagnostic modalities to classify coagulopathies and to stratify patients according to their risk of bleeding and thrombotic events. Additionally, I utilize large-scale databases, observational cohorts, and interventional trials to establish evidence-based transfusion thresholds and to refine management protocols for hematologic-oncologic patients requiring intensive care.

As a founding member of the national HEMA-ICU study group, I contribute to advancing research and clinical guidelines within this specialized field.

Current Research Approaches

  • Observational Studies: broad, inclusive observational studies are instrumental in characterizing coagulation profiles across diverse cohorts of critically ill patients. My research focuses on enhancing the identification of patients with coagulopathy who are at increased risk of hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. Particular emphasis is placed on the application of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) as a diagnostic tool. This work is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues from the anesthesiology department.
  • Interventional Studies: Our team is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial (the TREC trial) to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a restrictive transfusion strategy in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In parallel, we are undertaking a feasibility study aimed at defining the lower transfusion threshold for red blood cell administration.
  • Collaborative Networks: Beyond my role in the HEMA-ICU study group, I serve as one of the two Dutch collaborators in the international ISTH Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) working group, focusing on observational studies related to DIC. Furthermore, we are nearing completion of a national study investigating the predictive accuracy of ROTEM for complications in patients at risk of DIC.