Doctor's Profile

Dr Ashu Sara Mathai

Dr Ashu Sara Mathai

Professor & HOD

MBBS, MD Anaesthesiology

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Dr. Ashu Sara Mathai, a distinguished expert in the field of anaesthesiology, boasts over two decades of invaluable experience. She received her undergraduate degree and MD in Anaesthesiology from Goa Medical College. Before her tenure at Believers Hospital, Dr. Mathai served at CMC Ludhiana, where she honed her skills and gained extensive knowledge.
 

Research Projects:

  • Principal Investigator (PI) for EPIC II (The Extended Study of Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care II), a multicenter international one-day prevalence study, conducted at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, in May 2007. The results of this groundbreaking study were published in JAMA in 2009.

  • Co-PI for the MANAGE trial in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab.

  • PI for the SQUEEZE study (ESAIC), an international observational cohort study focused on postoperative vasopressor usage. The results are eagerly anticipated.

  • PI for the ENCORE study (ESAIC), a multicenter, international, observational study examining the effects of anesthetic techniques on the time to start adjuvant chemotherapy and post-surgery outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. The results of this study are also eagerly awaited.

 

Faculty/Guest Lectures/Chair/Presentations:

  • Invited Guest Speaker at the Critical Care Nurses Workshop at the national critical care conference 'Criticare 2007' in Cochin, January 2007.

  • Guest Speaker at the North Zone Indian Society of Anaesthesiology conference in Ludhiana, November 2010.

  • Guest Speaker at the North Zone Indian Society of Anaesthesiology conference in Patiala, October 2013.

  • Guest Speaker at the Neurocritical Workshop, Neurovascon, in Ludhiana, September 2015.

  • Presented a poster on 'Acute Aluminium Phosphide Toxicity' at 'Criticare 2007,' the National Critical Care Conference in Cochin, 2007.

  • Presented an e-poster on 'Mechanical and Infectious Complications of Central Venous Catheterizations' at the National Critical Care Conference and International Critical Care Congress in New Delhi, 2011, where she was awarded the first prize.

  • Presented a poster on 'Attributable Costs of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia' at the National Critical Care Conference and International Critical Care Congress in Kolkata, 'Criticare 2013.'

  • Invited Guest Speaker at PIMS Criticon 2022 on "Difficult Airway," discussing the "Difficult Airway Algorithm in Adults."

  • Invited Guest Speaker at BEACON 2022, Thiruvalla Kerala, where she spoke on the topic, "A Case of Super Morbid Obesity: How We Did It!"

  • Invited Guest Speaker at MARC 2023 at MOSC Kollenchery, speaking in a Pro-Con Debate on "Regional vs. General Anesthesia in Infraumbilical Surgeries in Children below 18 months."

  • Invited Guest Speaker at Kerala State ISACON in October 2023, where she discussed "Bariatric Surgery: Anaesthetic Concerns."

 

Examinership:

  • Dr. Ashu has been involved in examining MD (Anaesthesiology) and DNB exams since 2015.

  • She serves as a thesis guide for post-graduate students, offering guidance for MD (Anaesthesiology), MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Nephrology), and DM (Neurology) students.

 

Publications:

  • Mathai AS, Singh M. "A Rare Bleeding Complication of Subclavian Venous Cannulation." Indian Journal Anaesth. 2007; 51.

  • Mathai AS, Bhanu MS. "Acute Aluminium Phosphide Poisoning: Can We Predict Mortality?" Indian Journal Anaesth. 2010; 54: 302-7.

  • Williams A, Mathai AS, Bhatia G, Abraham J. "Fatal Airway Obstruction Following Arterial Trauma during Internal Jugular Venous Cannulation." Indian J Crit Care Med. 2010; 14: 202-4.

  • Mathai AS, George S, Abraham J. "Efficacy of a Multimodal Intervention Strategy on Improving Hand Hygiene Compliance in a Tertiary Level Intensive Care Unit." Indian J Crit Care Med 2011; 15: 6-15.

  • Williams A, Mathai AS, Abraham J. "A Dangerous Clinical Practice!" Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine 2011; 15: 140.

  • Mathai AS, Singh M. "Perioperative Course of Peritonitis following Tube Thoracostomy: An Unusual Occurrence of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia." Anesthesia: Essays and Researches 2011; 5: 95-7.

  • Mathai AS, Nazareth M, Raju RS. "Sedation of Preschool Children: Comparison of Intranasal Midazolam versus Oral Promethazine." Anesth Essays Res 2011; 5: 70-4.

  • Mathai AS. "Non-Invasive Ventilation in the Postoperative Period - Is There a Role?" Indian J Anaesth 2011; 55: 325-33.

  • Williams A, Mathai AS, Phillips A. "Antibiotic Prescription Patterns at Admission into a Tertiary Level Intensive Care Unit in Northern India." J Pharm Bioall Sci 2011; 3:531-6.

  • Kaur R, Mathai AS, Abraham J. "Mechanical and Infectious Complications of Central Venous Catheterizations in a Tertiary-level Intensive Care Unit in Northern India." Indian J Anaesth 2012; 56: 376-81.

  • Mathai AS, Oberoi A, Madhavan S, Parmdeep Kaur. "Acinetobacter Infections in a Tertiary-level Intensive Care Unit in Northern India: Epidemiology, Clinical Profiles, and Outcomes." J Infect Public Health 2012; 5:145-52.

  • Ahuja H, Mathai AS, Chander R, Mathew AE. "Case of Difficult Tracheostomy Tube Insertion: A Novel Yet Simple Solution to the Dilemma." Anesth Essays Res 2013; 7; 402-4.

  • Phillips AS, Mathai AS. "New-Onset Seizures with Cerebral Edema as a Direct Effect of Antipsychotic Medications." Int J Nutr Pharmacol Neurol Dis 2013; 3: 150-2.

  • Mathai AS. "Benchmarking Critical Care Processes: Reaching Standards of Excellence!" Indian J Crit Care Med 2014; 18: 265-6.

  • Ahuja H, Mathai AS, Pannu A, Arora R. "Acute Poisonings Admitted to a Tertiary Level Intensive Care Unit in Northern India: Patient Profile and Outcomes." J Clin Diagnostic Research 2015; 9: UC 01-4.

  • Mathai AS, Phillips A, Kaur P, Isaac R. "Incidence and Attributable Costs of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in a Tertiary-level Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Northern India." J of Infect Public Health 2015; 8: 127–35.

  • Mathai AS, Phillips A, Isaac R. "Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Persistent Healthcare Problem in Indian Intensive Care Units!" Lung India 2016; 33: 512-6.

  • John J, Thomas SM, Mathai AS, Rajkumar A. "A Prospective Study on Incidence and Microbiological Profile of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit of A Tertiary Care Centre." International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2017; 4(9): 1840-1843.

  • Verghese PP, Mathai AS, Abraham V, Kaur P. "Assessment of Malnutrition and Enteral Feeding Practices in the Critically Ill: A Single-Centre Observational Study." Indian J Anaesth 2018; 62: 29-35.

  • John J, Thomas SM, Mathai AS, Rajkumar A. "Impact of Education of the Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) Prevention Bundle on the Incidence of VAP Infections in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)." India J Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2018; 5(6): 1017-21.

  • Sood R, Das J, Mathai A. "Performance of Prognostic Scores in AKI Population in ICU." International J Scientific Research 2019; 9(1): 35-38.

  • Lukachan GA, Mathew A, Varughese D, Mathai AS. "Practice of Intraoperative Fluid Administration during Major Abdominal Surgeries: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India." Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2023 Oct, Vol-17(10): UC17-UC21.

 

Book Articles:

Dr. Ashu has also made contributions to books in the field of anesthesiology and medical ethics. Her insights can be found in:

  • "Intraoperative Thermoregulation" in the 'Yearbook of Anesthesiology-9.'

  • "Critical Care Ethics: An Indian Context" in 'Practical Bioethics, An Indian Perspective-II.'