Specialty Areas
- Adult cardiac surgery
- Minimally invasive valve repair and replacement (mitral and aortic)
- Coronary revascularization
- Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation
- Surgery on ascending aorta
Common Procedures
- Aortic valve and mitral valve replacement and repair (through the transcatheter [TAVR, TMVR, mitraclip] approach, as well as minimally invasive and standard open heart surgery
- Coronary artery bypass
- Tricuspid valve repair
- Aortic surgery
- Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation
Common Diagnoses Treated
- Adult congenital heart disease
- Aneurysms
- Arrhythmias & heart rhythm disorders
- Atrial fibrillation
- Cardiogenic shock
- Coronary artery disease
- Endocarditis
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Valvular heart diseases (aortic, mitral, pulmonary, tricuspid)
- Atresia
- Prolapse
- Valvular regurgitation
- Valve stenosis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Marfan syndrome
- Myocarditis
- Pericardial disease
- Valve disease
- Mediastinal tumors
- Thoracic trauma
- Anomalous coronary artery
- Aortic stenosis
- Atrial septal defects
- Atrioventricular canal defects
- Bacterial endocarditis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart murmur
- Left ventricular outflow tract obstructive lesions
- Ebstein anomaly
- Patient ductus arteriosus
- Pericarditis
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Ventricular septal defect
Board Certifications
Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
Degrees
Medical School, 2002, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
Residency
2007, General Surgery Residency, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Fellowship
2006, Research Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
2010, Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, England
2011, Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Professional Memberships
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
American Heart Association
Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgery Society
Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
Awards and Honors
- June 2017, International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, Poster Competition Finalist
- June 2016, Washington University Department of Surgery 2016 Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness Projects, First Place Presentation
- April 2012, American Association for Thoracic Surgery Leadership Academy
- June 2010, International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery Poster Competition, Finalist
- January 2009, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society
- July 2004 – June 2006, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health
- July 2004 – June 2006, National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Grant
- July 2005, Missouri Chapter American College of Surgeons, First place resident abstract competition
Areas of Research Interest
- Atrial fibrillation
- Postoperative atrial fibrillation
- Inflammation after cardiac surgery
- Cardiopulmonary bypass
- Aortic dissection
- Outcomes after cardiac surgery
Clinical Trials
COMMENCE Trial (Edwards Lifesciences): Principal Investigator. ProspeCtive, nOn-randoMized, MulticENter Clinical Evaluation of Edwards Pericardial Bioprosthesis with a New Tissue Treatment Platform (COMMENCE). Department of Veterans Affairs Contribution of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Pericardial Fluid to Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery. (1/1/2017-12/31/2021)
R21 AG052821-1: Co-Investigator. The Default Mode Network during the Pathogenesis of Postoperative Delirium. (2017, PI: Palanca)
Clearflow QA protocol: Principal Investigator. Data collection of Pre-, Intra-, Post-op Variables of Chest Tube Drainage Device. LAAOs III: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study III; Sponsor: Population Health Research Institute, Ontario Canada.
Principal Investigator. Medtronic APOLLO Trial: Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement with the Medtronic Intrepid TMVR System in Patients With Severe Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation: Protocol Version 2.0: Sub-I:Cardiac Surgeon.(2017)
Effects of Microplegia On Transfusion Rates After Cardiac Surgery: A randomized Prospective Analysis. Principle Investigator. (2018-2019) Basic Science Research Training-Cardiopulmonary Surgery. Faculty. 7/1/1994-06/30/21.
R01 AG057901: Co-Investigator. Postoperative Delirium and Electroencephalographic Measures of Sleep and Wakefulness. (2018, PI: Palanca) Allergan Trial. Principle Investigator.
A Phase 2, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A (AGN-151607) Injections into the Epicardial Fat Pads to Prevent Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Open-Chest Cardiac Surgery (2019)
Publications
Hospital Affiliations
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Patients Seen At
Heart and Vascular Center
Center for Advanced Medicine
4921 Parkview Place, Suite A, 8th Floor
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-7260
Fax: (314) 747-0917
- Meet the Heart Valve Disease Team
- Meet the Heart Valve Disease Team
- Cardiac Surgery – Department of Surgery 2021 Annual Report
- 2021 Annual Report for the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Cardiac Surgery – Department of Surgery 2020 Annual Report
- The Toxicity of Inadequate Pericardial Drainage After Surgery: Implications for Patient Recovery
- Dr. Spencer Melby, Video Bio, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiac Surgery, Potential Pericardial Contributors
To request an appointment with Dr. Melby, please call 314-362-7260 .