Ascah, Kathryn

Dr. Kathryn Ascah is Director of the Stress Laboratory at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She is also Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Attending Physician at The Ottawa Hospital.

Background

Dr. Ascah obtained her MD from the University of Toronto in 1977. She trained in Internal Medicine and in Cardiology in Toronto. She received her Fellowship in Internal Medicine in 1981 and in Cardiology in 1983 from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC). She subsequently spent three years researching echocardiography at Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard University), supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Dr. Ascah is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases. She became a fellow of the American College of Cardiology in 1985 and is a member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. She is a Diplomat of the National Board of Echocardiography and was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography in 2003. She joined the Division of Cardiology of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 1986.

Dr. Ascah has an interest in medical education both undergraduate and post graduate.  She is involved in the education of both physicians and technologists in echocardiography and stress testing.

Research and clinical interests

Dr. Ascah's research interests include valvular heart disease and ventricular function.

Publications

FULL LIST OF PAPERS IN REFEREED JOURNALS

  • Joubert JR, Ascah KJ, Moroz L, Hogg JC: Acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the rabbit. An animal model with horseradish peroxidase. Am Rev Resp Dis 1976;113:503.
  • Ascah KJ, Hyland RH, Hutcheon MA, Urbanski SA, Pruzanski W, St Louis EL, Jones DP, Keystone EC: Invasive aspergillosis in a "healthy" patient. Can Med Assoc J 1984;131:332.
  • Ascah KJ, Stewart WJ, Jiang L, Guerrero JL, Newell JB, Gillam LD, Weyman AE: A Doppler 2 D echocardiographic method for the quantification of mitral regurgitation. Circulation 1985; 72(2):377-383.
  • Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Davidoff R, Franklin TD, Newell JB, Hogan RD, Weyman AE. Evolution of the temporal contraction sequence following acute experimental myocardial infarction. J Amer Coll Cardiol 1988;13(3):730-736.
  • Ascah KJ, Stewart WJ, Triulzi MO, Gillam LD, Weyman AE: Calculation of transmitral flow by Doppler Echocardiography. A comparison in a canine model. Amer Heart Journal 1988;117(2):402-411.
  • Ascah KJ, King ME, Gillam LD, Weyman AE: The effects of right ventricular hemodynamics on left ventricular configuration. Can J Cardiol 1990;6(3):99-106.
  • Chan KL, Marquis JF, Ascah KJ, Morton BC, Baird MG: Role of transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. Echocardiography 1990;7(2): 115-123.
  • Ascah KJ, Ruddy TD, Gulenchyn KY, Williams WL, Spencer PC, Kearns SA, Ballinger JA, Davies RA: Detection of myocardial salvage with combined antimyosin and thallium imaging. Eur J Nucl Med 1990;16:211-213
  • Leech JA, Ascah KJ: Hemodynamic effect of nasal CPAP examined by Doppler echocardiography. Chest 1991;99(2):323-326.
  • Sochowski RA, Chan KL, Ascah KJ, Bedard P: Comparison of accuracy of transesophageal vs transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of mitral valve prolapse with ruptured chordae tendineae (Flail mtiral leaflet) Amer J Cardiol 1991;67:1251-1255.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Ascah KJ, Sochowski RA, Chan KL, Ruddy TD: Spontaneous drainage of paravalvular abscess diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. J Amer Soc of Echocardiography 1991;4(4):397-400.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Sochowski RA, Ascah KJ: Echocardiographic detection of pulmonary emboli-in-transit. Can J Cardiol 1991;7(6):246-248.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Walley V, Ascah KJ, Chan KL: Left atrial mass produced by extensive mitral annular calcification. J Amer Soc Echocardiography 1991;4(6):619-622.
  • Ascah KJ, Patrick E, Chilton C, Zawalick B, Bedard P: Atypical psuedoaneurysm following mitral valve replacement: Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis. J Amer Soc Echocardiography 1991;4(6):625-630.
  • Calvin JE, Ascah KJ: Impact of leftward septal shift and potential role of ischemia in its production during experimental right ventricular pressure overload. J Critical Care 1992;7(2):106-117.
  • Walley VM, Ascah KJ: Massive Cardiac Deposits of Al-Amyloid in a Patient with Previous Valve Replacement. J of Heart Valve Disease 1994;3:220-223.
  • Hendry PJ, Ascah KJ, Rajagopalan K, Calvin JE: Does septal position affect right ventricular function during left ventricular assist on an experimental porcine model? Circulation 1994;90(5):353-358.
  • Choong KL, Ruddy TD, Ascah KJ, Gulenchyn KY: "Double chamber" right ventricle due to prominent trabeculation. Clinical Nuclear Medicine 1995;20(9):830-831.
  • Lee AP, Walley VM, Ascah KJ, Veinot JP, Davies RA, Keon WJ: A fenestrated aortic valve contributing to iatrogenic aortic insufficiency post mitral valve replacement. Cardiovascular Pathology 1996;5:85-88.
  • Tam JW, Burwash IG, Ascah KJ, Baird MG, Chan K: Feasibility and complications of single- plane and biplane versus multiplane Transesophageal imaging: A review of 2947 consecutive studies. Can J Cardiol 1997;13(1):81-84.
  • Hendel RC, Kostuk W, Beanlands RS, Chaudy F, Ascah KJ, Young H, Ruddy TD: Comparison of Tc-99m sestamibi perfusion imaging and echocardiography using an arbutamine Infusion for the detection of coronary artery disease. Amer J Cardiol 1997;79:1581-1521.
  • Ascah KJ, Rock G, Wells P: Interaction between Fenofibrate (Lipidil) and Warfin. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:765-8.
  • Ford JC, Ascah KJ, Walley V: An unusual coronary vein lesion: calcified thrombus. Cardiovascular Pathology, 7:.169-72, 1998.
  • Ascah KJ: Aortic Dissection: A ‘Humerus’ Case. J Amer Soc Echocardiography 1999:12(10);864-865.
  • Veinot JP, Ascah K, Davies RA, Smith S. Coronary artery –posterior interventricular vein fistula post-endomyocardial biopsy in a heart transplant patient. Can J Cardiol. 2002 18 (2): 193-4.
  • Chan, KW, Liu X, Ascah, KJ, Beauchesne LM, Burwash IG. Comparison of Real-time 3-Dimensional Echocardiography with Conventional 2-Dimensional Echocardiography in the Assessment of Structural Disease. J Amer Soc Echocardiography 2004;17:976-980.
  • Sanfilippo A, Bewick D, Chan K, Ascah KJ, et al. Guidelines for the provision of echocardiography in Canada: Recommendations of a joint Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Society of Echocardiography Consensus Panel. Can J Cardiology 2005;21(9):763-780.
  • Labrosse MR, Ascah KJ, Hynes MS, Chaudry S, Mesana TG. Finite element analysis to help in surgical treatment of ischemic mitral valve disease. Presented at 16th World Congress WSCTS, 2006.
  • Suuronen EJ, Price J, Veinot, Ascah KJ, Kapila V, Guo X, Wong S, Mesana T, Ruel M. Comparative effects of mesenchymal progenitor cells, endothelial progenitor cells, or their combination on myocardial infarct regeneration and cardiac function. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134(5):1249-1258.
  • Baxter I, Labrosse MR, Ascah KJ, Hynes MS, Mesana TG. A novel approach to mitral valve imaging for reparative surgery. Can J Cardiol 2008 Oct;24(Suppl E):321E.
  • Stewart RL, Chan K, Beauchesne LM, Peters GL, Ascah KJ, Hay KM, Burwash IG. Can BNP levels predict exercise capacity or functional impairment in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis? Can J Cardiol 2008 Oct;24(Suppl E):319E.
  • Chow B, Ling M, Ascah KJ. Single coronary artery in a patient with apical variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Can J Cardiology (in press).

ABSTRACTS

  • Ascah KJ, King ME, Weyman AE: The impact of right ventricular hemodynamics on left ventricular configuration. Clin Invest Med 1984;7.
  • Gillam LD, Ascah KJ, Guerrero JL, Hogan RD, Franklin TD, Weyman AE: The influence of experimental model on post infarction dyskinesis. Circulation 1984;70.
  • Gillam LD, Ascah KJ, Slater CE, Franklin TD, Hogan RD, Weyman AE: Spatial variability in the timing of peak dyskinesis within infarct zones. Circulation 1984;70.
  • Ascah KJ, Stewart WJ, Jiang L, Guerrero JL, Weyman AE: Validation of Doppler methods for quantification of mitral regurgitation: An experimental model. J Am Coll Cardiol 1985;5(2).
  • Mann DL, Foale R, Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Weyman AE: Persistence of abnormal wall motion in the canine ventricle after subacute infarction: Implications for reperfusion therapy. J Am Coll Cardiol 1985;5(2).
  • Levine RA, Stewart WJ, Ascah KJ, Galvin KA, Weyman AE: How often does Doppler echocardiography provide information otherwise unavailable by imaging studies: Experience in 100 patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 1985;5(2).
  • Gillam LD, Kritzer GL, Ascah KJ, Wilkins G, Weyman AE: A comparison of flows through the mitral, tricuspid, aortic and pulmonic valves calculated with Doppler echocardiography. Circulation 1985;72:II 99.
  • Ascah KJ, Gibbons EF, Hogan RH, Franklin T, Gillam LD, Weyman AE: Evolution of the temporal and spatial extent of dyskinesis following experimental myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 1986;7(2):60.
  • Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Franklin TD, Hogan RD, Weyman AE: Effects of infarct maturation on the temporal and spatial pattern of dyskinesis. Clin Invest Med 1986:8;B58.
  • Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Guerrero JL, Wilson N, Weyman AE: Can the 4 cardiac valves be used interchangeably for the calculation of cardiac output. Clin Invest Med, 1987 :10(5);C60.
  • Calvin JE, Ascah KJ. Right ventricular diastolic function and transseptal interaction during acute right ventricular pressure overload. Chest, 1988.
  • Ascah KJ, Barrie M: A comparison of echocardiography, Doppler and color flow mapping in the diagnosis of ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction. Clin Invest Med 1988;11:D38.
  • Chan KL, Ascah KJ, Baird MG: Comparison of Medtronic Hall mechanical valve with Ionescu-Shiley tissue valve: An echo-Doppler study. J Soc Echocard 1988;(4):417.
  • Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Guerrero JL, Wilson N, Weyman AE: Calculation of cardiac output by Doppler echocardiography. A comparison of the four cardiac valves. Chest, 1988:94(1);24S.
  • Ascah KJ, Gillam LD, Guerrero JL, Wilson N, Weyman AE: Can the 4 cardiac valves be used interchangeably in the determination of cardiac output by Doppler echocardiography. Clinical and Investigative Medicine 1987;10(5):126.
  • Calvin JE, Ascah KJ: The relationship of leftward septal shift to right ventricular ischemia during right ventricular pressure overload. Clin and Invest Med 1988;11(5):119.
  • Calvin JE, Ascah KJ. Right ventricular diastolic function and transseptal interaction during acute right ventricular pressure overload. Clinical and Investigative Medicine 1988;11(4):141.
  • Calvin JE, Ascah KJ. Right ventricular diastolic function and transseptal interaction during acute right ventricular pressure overload. Chest 1988;94:255.
  • Ascah KJ, Barrie M., Baird MG, Chan KL. A comparison of echocardiography vs Doppler and color flow mapping in the diagnosis of ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction. Clin and Invest Med 1988;11;(5)30.
  • Ruddy, TD, Gulenchyn KY, Ascah KJ, Williams WL, Spencer PC, Kearns SA, Ballinger JA, Davies RA: Comparison of In-111 antimyosin antibody and TC-99M pyrophosphate imaging of myocardial necrosis. Eur J of Nucl Med 1989;15(8):470.
  • Ascah KJ, Ruddy TD, Gulenchyn KY, Giannoccaro PJ, Williams WL, Spencer PC, Kearns SA, Ballinger JA, Davies RA: Detection of myocardial salvage with combined antimyosin and thallium imaging. Eur J of Nuc Med 1989;15(8):400. Circ 1989:80(4);II-308.
  • Chan KL, Daniel L, Rakowski H, Ascah KJ, Baird M: Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial in the evaluation of patients with endocarditis. Clin and Invest Med 1989;12(5)133;C66.
  • Leech JA, Ascah KJ: Non-Invasive hemodynamic studies of applied nasal CPAP in normal volunteers. Chest 1990;96(2):114S.
  • Ruddy TD, Ascah KJ, Gulenchyn KY, Giannoccaro PJ, Williams WL, Smith C, Kearns SA, Ballinger JA: Detection of myocardial salvage with combined antimyosin and thallium imaging. Clin Invest Med 1990;13(5):C61 107. Eur J Nucl Med 1990:16(Suppl S);S110.
  • Chan KL, Daniel L, Rakowski H, Ascah KJ, Baird M: Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial in the evaluation of patients with endocarditis. Circulation 1989;80(4)(Suppl II);668.
  • Sochowski RA, Ascah KJ, Chan KL: Detection of flail myxomatous mitral valve by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Clin and Invest Med 1990;13(5),C87 No. 211.
  • Chan KL, Sochowski RA, Ascah KJ, Baird MG: Does a negative transesophageal echocardiographic study rule out infective endocarditis. J Amer Col Cardiol. 1991;17(2)(Suppl. A):371A.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Ascah KJ, Marois LJ, Cole CW, McPhail NV, Barber GG, Hajjar GE, Gulenchyn KY, Ruddy TD: Dipyridamole echocardiography has high concordance with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy prior to vascular surgery. Can J Cardiol 1991;7(Suppl A); 69A.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Ascah KJ, Marois LJ, Cole CW, McPhail NV, Barber GG, Hajjar GE, Gulenchyn KY, Ruddy TD: Dipyridamole echocardiography predicts perioperative cardiac events following vascular surgery. Can J Cardiol 1991;7(Suppl A):93A.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Chan KL, Sochowski RA, Ascah KJ, Habibi H, Baird MG: Does age affect the yield of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of a potential cardiac source of embolization. Can J Cardiol 1991;7(Suppl A):108A.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Ascah KJ, Ruddy TD, Cole CW, McPhail NV, Barber GG, Marois LJ, Gulenchyn KY: Dipyridamole echocardiography: A feasible screening test prior to vascular surgery. J Amer Soc Echocardio 1991;4(3):279.
  • Giannoccaro PJ, Ascah KJ, Marois LJ, Cole CW, McPhail NV, Barber GG, Hajjar GE, Gulenchyn KY, Ruddy TD: Dipyridamole echocardiography predicts perioperative cardiac events following vascular surgery. Circulation 1991;84(4):II-479.
  • Ruddy TD, McPhail NV, Barber GG, Cole CW, Marois LJ, Aung M, Ascah KJ, Davies RF, Gulenchyn KY: Cardiac risk stratification prior to vascular surgery. Can J Cardiol 1992:8(Suppl B);99B. J Nucl Med 1993;34(5):74P. Eur J Nucl Med 1993:34(5);74P.
  • Hendry PJ, Ascah KJ, Rajagopalan K, Calvin JE: Mechanisms of right ventricular failure during left ventricular assist. Circulation 1993:88(4)I-287.
  • Hendry PJ, Ascah KJ, Rajagopalan K, Calvin JE: Septal position does not affect right ventricular function during left ventricular assist. Circulation 1993:88(4)Pt 2;I-166.
  • Ruddy TD, Dalipag MM, Aubrey BA, Aung MT, Monsour GE, Ascah KJ, Beanlands RSB: Comparison of thallium-201 uptake during arbutamine versus exercise stress. Can J Card 1995:11; 131E.
  • Ruddy TD, Kostuk WJ, Beanlands RSB, Mistovich MM, Young HC, Rogowski R, Chaudry F, Ascah KJ, Hendel RC: Comparison of 99m Tc sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging and echocardiography with arbutamine stress testing. Eur Heart J 1995:16; 165 and Nucl Med 1995: 132P.
  • Tan P, Kim HH, Martin H, Tam JW, Chan KL, Baird MG, Ascah KJ, Sochowski RA, Higginson L: Echo is superior to EKG in assessing prognosis in acute inferior MI. Can J Cardiol 1995:11; 74E.
  • Smith Vivienne E, Szlachcic Y, Massie B, Tubau J, Ascah KJ, Feeney W, Gilbert B, Messerli F, Ruddy TD, Sagar K, Sullivan J, Tresnewsky O, Flanagan T: LV Remodelling and LVH regression are related to ambulatory (not casual) BP control in hypertension. JACC 1996:27(2) p 105A.
  • Ascah KJ, McPherson RP, Dalipaj M, Borthwick JM, Goulet S, Jolly EE, Ruddy TD. Spectrum of endothelial dysfunction in pre and postmenopausal women. Can J Cardiol 1997:13; 95C.
  • Huq N, Chan KL, Mayhew A, Ascah KJ, Baird MG, Burwash I: Optimal Doppler Assessment of aortic stenosis: Where to interrogate and for how long? Can J Cardio 1997:13; 100C.
  • Ruddy TD, McPherson R, Dalipaj MM, Borthwick JM, Ascah KJ: Improved Endothelial Function with Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Artery Disease Circulation 1998: 98 17(I) 3469 p 660.
  • Mussivand T, Hendry P, Masters R, Bourke M, Meuller R, Beanlands D, Smith S, Davies R, Ruddy T, Ascah KJ, Keaney M, Kilbourn S, Guiraundon, G, Keon W: Preparations for Clinical Utilization of the Canadian Artificial (Heartsaver)VAD. Can J Cardiol 1999:15:127D.
  • Chow B, Laurie S, Hamm C, Yau J, Gertler S, Dalipaj M, Ascah KJ, Ruddy TD: Beneficial Effects of Chronic Tamoxifen Therapy on Endothelial Dysfunction. Can J Cardiol 1999:15:211D.
  • Gholoum B, deKemp R, Dalipaj M, Ascah KJ, Beanlands RS, Aung MA, Levesque N, Gauthier DJ, Westerman EL, Ruddy TD: The Effect of high fat meal on triglyceride levels, endothelial function and myocardial blood flow. Can J Cardiol 2000:16 Suppl F;225. Circ 2000:102(18); Suppl II-770.
  • Beauchesne LM, Chan KL, Ascah KJ, Burwash IG: Implication of symptomatic hemodynamic and EKG changes during exercise stress testing in patients with aortic stenosis: Relationship to coronary artery disease J Am Coll Cardiol 2001: 158A(1099-45).
  • Ruddy TD, Dalipaj M, Borthwick J, Jolly E, Ascah KJ: Effect of Estrogen and Progesterone on Endothelial Function in Healthy Post-menopausal Women Circ 2002 106(19) Suppl II-651.
  • Chan Kl, Lui X, Ascah K, Beauchesne L, Burwash I. Comparison of real-time 3D echocardiography with conventional 2-D echocardiography in the assessment of structural heart disease. Can J Cardiology Oct 2003;19 (suppl A):174A
  • Salehian O, Chan KL, Ascah K, Burwash IG, Beauchesne LM. Systolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus predicts peak oxygen consumption in patients with repaired Tetralogy of fallot. A tissue Doppler imaging study. Can J Cardiol Oct 2005;21(Supple C).
  • Suuronen EJ, Price J, Veinot JP, Guo X, Kapila V, Ascah KJ, Mesana TG, Ruel M: Comparative Effects of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells, Endothelial Progenitor Cells or their Combination on Myocardial Infarct Regeneration and Cardiac Function. Circ 2006;114(18) (Supple II).
  • Suuronen EJ, Veinot JP, Price J, Guo XW, Kapila V, Ascah KJ, Mesana TG, Ruel M: Comparative Effects of Cell Transplantation with Mesenchymal Progenitors, Endothelial Progenitors, or Their Combination on Myocardial Infarct Regeneration. Can J. Cardiol October 2006;22 (Suppl D).

BOOK CHAPTERS

  • Ascah KJ, Stewart WJ, Levine RA, Weyman AE: Doppler echocardiographic assessment of cardiac output. Radiologic Clinics of NA 1985;23(4):659-670.
  • Ascah KJ: Doppler Echocardiography in: Clinical Cardiac Imaging. Miller DD, Gill J, Burns RJ, Ruddy TD (eds), McGraw Hill, New York, 1987 pp 183-201.
  • Davies RA, Baird MG, Ruddy TD, Chan KL, Ascah KJ. Non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease: Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. Keon WJ, Beanlands DS, Farrell EM, Blackwell Scientific Publications 1990 pp 37-90.
Kathryn Ascah

Ascah, Kathryn

Ascah, Kathryn

MD, FRCPC, FACC, FASE

Appointments and affiliations

Director, Stress Laboratory

Acting Director, Echocardiography Laboratory
University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Ottawa

Attending Physician
The Ottawa Hospital

American College of Cardiology

American Society of Echocardiography

Canadian Cardiovascular Society

Ontario Medical Association