ChristopherGHughesMD

Anesthesiology • Nashville, TN

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

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Office
1211 21st Ave S
Ste 526
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone+1 615-936-2454

Fax+1 615-936-0605

Summary

Dr. Christopher G. Hughes is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology in the Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry summa cum laude from Indiana University in 2001 and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2005 as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He then completed residency in Anesthesiology, including a year as Chief Resident, in 2009 and critical care fellowship in 2010 at Vanderbilt, subsequently joining the faculty in 2010. He is Program Director for the Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, Chair of the Procedural Sedation Committee at VUMC, and member of the VUMC Institutional Review Board. Dr. Hughes is a principal investigator in the ICU Delirium and Cognitive Impairment Study Group (www.icudelirium.org). His research focuses on cognitive dysfunction during and after acute illness and on designing therapeutic regimens to improve cognitive outcomes. He is evaluating the mechanistic roles of endothelial activation, blood brain barrier injury, and neuroinflammation in delirium and long-term cognitive impairment. He is the Vanderbilt site principal investigator for the MENDS 2 study of dexmedetomidine vs. propofol for sedation of septic patients on mechanical ventilation. In addition, he is principal investigator of a study of cognitive and physical prehabilitation to improve outcomes after major surgery. Dr. Hughes has authored numerous manuscripts, including the first study to demonstrate the association of endothelial dysfunction with delirium, and is a frequent national and international speaker. He has received funding from the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Mentored Research Training Grant, Clinical and Translational Science Awards, American Geriatrics Society Jahnigen Career Development Award, and the National Institutes of Health.

Education & Training

Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFellowship, Critical Care Medicine (Anesthesiology), 2009 - 2010
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterResidency, Anesthesiology, 2005 - 2009
Indiana University School of MedicineClass of 2005
Indiana UniversityB.S., Biochemistry, 1997 - 2001

Certifications & Licensure

KY State Medical License 2016 - 2025
TN State Medical License 2007 - 2025
American Board of Anesthesiology Anesthesiology
American Board of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Nominee, Kosaka Abstract Awards IARS, 2015
Best of Category for Critical Care IARS, 2015
Chair's Award of Distinction, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2015-2016
Research Citation Finalist Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2014
Leading Physicians of the World International Association of Anesthesiologist, 2013
Best Poster Presentation, Annual Anesthesiology Research Symposium, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2012
Charles Bernard Pittinger, M.D. Prize for Excellence in Clinical/Translational Research, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2011
Chair's Award for Academic Achievement, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2011-2014
Vice-Chair's Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2009
SEA - HVO Traveling Fellowship to Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania Society for Education in Anesthesia, 2008
Benjamin Howard Robbins Scholars Program, Department of Anesthesiology Vanderbilt University, 2007
FAER/Abbott-Volwiler & Tabern Resident Scholar Program Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research/Abbott Laboratories, 2007
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society 2004
Peter V. Westhaysen Medical Education Trust Scholarship Indiana University School of Medicine, 2003
Dr. Eugene Hendershot Medical Scholarship Indiana University School of Medicine, 2003
Slemenda Scholar, Indiana University School of Medicine's Kenya Program Indiana University School of Medicine, 2002
John D. Van Nuys, M.D. Scholarship Indiana University School of Medicine, 2002
Class of 1968, Marvin A. Evans & Larry G. Hitchcock Scholarship Indiana University School of Medicine, 2001
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Clinical Trials

The MENDS2 Study, Maximizing the Efficacy of Sedation and Reducing Neurological Dysfunction and Mortality in Septic Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure Start of enrollment: 2013 May 15
Completed
Phase 3
Continuous Supraglottic pH Monitoring in Prolonged Intubated Intensive Care Patients and High Risk Aspiration Intraoperative Patients Start of enrollment: 2016 Aug 01
Terminated
Not Applicable
COgnitive and Physical Exercise (COPE) Prehabilitation Pilot Feasibility Study Start of enrollment: 2017 Mar 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Cholinesterase Activity and DeliriUm During Critical Illness Study Start of enrollment: 2017 May 08
Completed
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Management of pain and sedation in the intensive care unit.
Christina Boncyk, Mark L Rolfsen, David Richards, Joanna L Stollings, Matthew F Mart
BMJ. 2024-12-09
INhaled Sedation versus Propofol in REspiratory failure in the Intensive Care Unit (INSPiRE-ICU1): protocol for a randomised, controlled trial.
Christina Boncyk, John W Devlin, Hina Faisal, Timothy D Girard, Steven H Hsu
BMJ Open. 2024-10-26
Association Between Neuromuscular Blocking Agents and Outcomes of Emergency Tracheal Intubation: A Secondary Analysis of Randomized Trials.
Stephanie C DeMasi, Wesley H Self, Neil R Aggarawal, Michael D April, Luke Andrea
Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2024-10-08

Journal Articles

Sedative agents and prophylaxis in ICU delirium
Norman BC, Hughes CG, Current anesthesiology reports, 1/1/2015
Modulating the light switch by (3)MLCT-(3)pp* state interconversion
Spencer BR, Kraft BJ, Hughes CG, Pink M, Zaleski JM, Inorganic chemistry, 1/1/2010
Structure and thermal reactivity of a novel Pd(0) metallonenediyne
Coalter N, Concolino T, Streib W, Hughes CG, Rheingold A, Zaleski J, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1/1/2000

Books/Book Chapters

The perioperative care of the elderly patient.
Chapter: Postoperative cognitive issues.
Hughes CG, Brown CHEditors: Barnet S.Cambridge University Press, New York, NY2016
Perioperative crisis management and advanced life support.
Chapter: Delirium.
Alvis BD, Hughes CGEditors: McEvoy M, Furse C.Oxford University Press, New York, NY2016
Total intravenous anesthesia and target controlled infusions.
Chapter: Can IV sedatives affect outcome?
Hughes CG, Hayhurst CJ, Pandharipande PPEditors: Absalom AR, Mason KP.Springer Science+Business Media, New York, NY2016
Merritt's Neurology
Chapter: Delirium.
King AB, Hughes CGEditors: Louis E, Mayer S, Rowland L.Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PAEdition 13th,2015
Current Concepts in Adult Critical Care.
Chapter: Altered mental status during critical illness: delirium and coma.
Hughes CG, McGrane S, Pandharipande PPEditors: Bihorac A, Greenberg S.Society of Critical Care Medicine2014
Brain Dysfunction in Critical Illness.
Chapter: New paradigms in sedation of the critically ill patient.
Hughes CG, Pandharipande PPEditors: Stevens RD, Sharshar T, Ely EW.Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom2013
Critical Care Management of the Obese Patient.
Chapter: Pain, sedation, and delirium management of critically ill obese patients.
Hughes CG, Weavind L, Pandharipande PPEditors: Solh A.John Wiley & Sons, Ltd2012
SCCM Adult Multiprofessional Self-Assessment Review Book on Neurologic Critical Care.
Chapter: Altered mental status: delirium and coma.
Hughes CG, Pandharipande PPEditors: Sadovnikoff N.Society of Critical Care Medicine2012
Anesthetic Pharmacology
Chapter: Management of sedation, analgesia, and delirium.
Hughes CG, McGrane S, Ely EW, Pandharipande PPEditors: Evers A, Maze M.Cambridge University Press, United KingdomEdition 2nd,2011
Textbook of Critical Care
Chapter: Management of pain, anxiety, and delirium.
Hughes CG, Ely EW, Pandharipande PPEditors: Fink M, Vincent JL.Elsevier IncEdition 6th,2011
Postoperative Cardiac Care. A Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Monograph.
Chapter: Diagnosis and management of delirium in the postoperative cardiac patient.
Hughes CG, Pandharipande PPEditors: Sladen RN.Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins2011
Adult Multiprofessional Critical Care Review
Chapter: Management of sedation, analgesia, and delirium.
Hughes CG, Pandharipande PPEditors: Rehm C, Gilchrist I.Society of Critical Care Medicine2009
Society of Critical Care Medicine's Multiprofessional Critical Care Refresher Course
Chapter: Management of sedation, analgesia, and delirium.
Hughes CG, Pandharipande PPSociety of Critical Care Medicine2009
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Lectures

Can post-operative delirium really be managed.
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2016
Perioperative delirium: making sense of all the confusion.
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2016
Anesthetic management for a parturient with transposition of the great vessels.
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2016
Perioperative Delirium
Nashville VA Medical Center - 1/1/2016
Biomarkers of acute inflammation as predictors of long-term cognitive impairment and disability in survivors of critical illness.
Nashville, TN - 1/1/2016
Association of endothelial and neurologic injury biomarkers with cognitive impairment after critical illness.
Nashville, TN - 1/1/2016
Perioperative delirium.
Nashville, TN - 1/1/2016
Association between plasma UCHL1 and BDNF levels and duration of delirium in the critically ill.
San Francisco, CA - 1/1/2016
Perioperative cognitive dysfunction.
San Francisco, CA - 1/1/2016
Central Line Insertion
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - 1/1/2016
Sedation and Anesthesia for Procedures
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - 1/1/2016
Acute Lung Injury
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - 1/1/2016
Sedation and Delirium
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - 1/1/2016
Pharmacologic Principles
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - 1/1/2016
Sedation and Pain Management in the ICU
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - 1/1/2016
Diagnosis and Management of Shock
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - 1/1/2016
Billing and Critical Care Note Writing
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine - 1/1/2016
Blood-brain barrier breakdown: human evidence for delirium and cognitive decline?
Baltimore, MD - 1/1/2015
Role of surgery requiring anesthesia in postoperative cognitive impairment.
Baltimore, MD - 1/1/2015
GEMSSTAR U13 Conference. National Institute on Aging and the American Geriatrics Society
Bestheda, MD - 1/1/2015
Brain organ dysfunction in shock.
Denver, CO - 1/1/2015
Chronic pain interference of daily life following critical illness.
Honolulu, HI - 1/1/2015
Important papers you might have missed regarding ICU delirium.
Honolulu, HI - 1/1/2015
Delirium assessment in intubated patients.
London, United Kingdom - 1/1/2015
Perspectives from a BH Robbins Scholar.
Nashville, TN - 1/1/2015
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Press Mentions

No Difference in Outcomes with Recommended ICU SedativesFebruary 10th, 2021
Study Shows Safety and Effectiveness of Two Recommended ICU SedativesFebruary 2nd, 2021
A Role for Blood Vessels in Delirium?January 29th, 2016