Catherine Vu, MD
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, and Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2010 | University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, US, MD |
| 2006 | Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, US, BS in Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 2014-2015 | Clinical Fellowship, Regional and acute pain, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida |
| 2011-2014 | Clinical Residency, Anesthesia, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida |
| 2010-2011 | Clinical Internship, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas |
Board Certifications
| 2015 | Anesthesiology Board Certification |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2023
Assistant Professor, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, 2015 - 2016
Instructor, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL, 2014 - 2015
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Rotation Site Director, Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Assistant PACU Director, Department of Anesthesiology & PeriOper Med, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2022 - Present
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Physician, Department of Veteran Affairs, Houston, TX, 2016 - 2016
Institutional Committee Activities
Faculty Member, Faculty Recruitment Advisory Committee, 2018 - Present
Member, Head and Neck ERAS, 2017 - Present
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Sharma I, Dong W, Vu CN, Zheng G. The impact of head and neck radiation on airway management: a retrospective data review. Can J Anaesth None(None):None. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36271267.
- Kiong KL, Moreno A, Vu CN, Zheng G, Rosenthal DI, Weber RS, Lewis CM. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery: Impact on Return to Intended Oncologic Therapy (RIOT) and survival. Oral Oncol 130(None):105906. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35594776.
- Kiong KL, Vu CN, CMKL Y, Kruse B, Zheng G, Yu P, Weber RS, Lewis CM. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery: A Case-Matched Analysis of Perioperative and Pain Outcomes. Ann Surg Oncol 28(2):867-876, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32964371.
- Vu CN, Lewis CM, Bailard NS, Kapoor R, Rubin ML, Zheng G. Association Between Multimodal Analgesia Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirements in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap Reconstruction. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 146(8):708-713, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32556065.
- Vu CN, Ruiz-Esponda R, Yang E, Chang E, Gillard B, Pownall HJ, Hoogeveen RC, Coraza I, Balasubramanyam A. Altered relationship of plasma triglycerides to HDL cholesterol in patients with HIV/HAART-associated dyslipidemia: further evidence for a unique form of metabolic syndrome in HIV patients. Metabolism 62(7):1014-20, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23522788.
- Su J, Bailard N, Tan J, Lim J, Vu C, Dong W, Zheng G. Factors associated with emergency airway management and difficult intubation in hospitalized patients outside of the operating room at a cancer treatment center. Journal of Clinical Anes. PMID: None.
Other Articles
- Kapoor R, Truong AT, Vu CN, Truong DT Successful Verbal Communication Using Google Translate to Facilitate Awake Intubation of a Patient with a Language Barrier: A case report. A A Pract 14(4):106-108, 2020. PMID: 31842193.
- Vu C, Zheng G, Hagberg C Neck Radiotherapy increases the risk of syncope during awake airway management: A report of two cases. Head Neck & Spine Surgery 4(1):3, 2019. PMID: None.
- Missair A, Marino MJ, Vu CN, Gutierrez J, Missair A, Osman B, Gebhard RE Anesthetic Implications of Ebola Patient Management: A Review of the Literature and Policies. Anesth Analg 121(3):810-21, 2015. PMID: 25551317.
Abstracts
- Su J, Bailard N, Tan J, Lim J, Vu CN, Dong W, Zheng G. Factors associated with emergency airway management and difficult intubation in hospitalized patients outside of the operating room at a cancer treatment center. None, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: None.
- Vu CN, Lewis C, Bailard N, Kapoor R, Rubin MR, Zheng G. A Data Review of Perioperative Multimodal Analgesic Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirements for Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery. None, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: None.
- Williams III W, Vu C, Kapoor R, Cata J. Postoperative Train-Of-Four Ratio and Recovery After Robotic Prostatectomy. None, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Zheng G, Hagberg C. The Role of baroreflex dysfunction in airway management. None, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Kapoor R, Hancher-Hodge S, Nguyen L. Scared to Death: When Bad News can be Deadly. None, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: None.
- Nguyen L, Vu C, Kwater P, et al. Anesthetic Implications of an Ectopic Pancreas. None, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: None.
- Nguyen L, Bailard N, Vu C, et al. A Technique to Preserve Eyelash Integrity in Patient with Madarosis in the Perioperative Environment. None, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: None.
- Nguyen L, Kowalski A, Vu C, Bailard N, Bellard B, McHugh T, Kwater P. Disruptive Behavior, bullying and burnout in the perioperative environment. None, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Zheng G. The Challenge of Managing a Patient with the Combination of Difficult Airway, Emergent Delirium, and Combativeness. None, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: None.
- Nguyen L, Ross M, Cerny J, Vu C, French K, Lim J, Goravanchi F. Anesthetic Challenges in patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. None, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Cohn J, Ranasinghe S. Anesthesia Considerations in a Morbidly Obese Parturient with Significant Coronary Artery Disease and Two Bare Stents Presenting for Cesarean Section. None, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: None.
- Vu CN, Eber S. Acute Hypotensive Transfusion Reaction with Concomitant Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in a Neurosurgery Case. None, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Bailard N, Lewis C, Dong W, Diao K, Zheng G. The Association between Multimodal Analgesic and Intraoperative Hemodynamic in Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap. None. PMID: None.
- Vu C, Sharma I, Zabala A, Idowu T, Kwater AP, Donahue H, Oliver JA, Bankston CB, Panchapakesan K, and Singh-Heir J. Quality Improvement Project for Patients with Tracheostomy/Laryngectomy for Emergency Airway Events. None. PMID: None.
Book Chapters
- Nates JL, Price KJ. Acute Pain in Critical Care Oncologic Patients. In: Oncologic Critical Care. None. Springer, 2019.
- Vu C. Chapter 33: Pharmacology of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. In: Pharmacology and Physiology for Anesthesia 3rd Edition. None. Elsevier, None.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. A Case Report of Laryngeal Paraganglioma, a Rare Head and Neck Tumor. Poster. Education and Research Day. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. The Reasons for Cancellation and Abort Anesthesia Related Cases from 9/2021-6/2022. Conference. The Reasons for Cancellation and Abort Anesthesia Related Cases from 9/2021-6/2022. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. The association between Oral Multimodal Analgesic Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirement in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap Reconstruction. Conference. The association between Oral Multimodal Analgesic Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirement in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap Reconstruction. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Malignant Hyperthermia. Conference. Malignant Hyperthermia. Houston, TX, US.
- 2009. Unique Relationship Between Plasma Triglyceride and HDL-C Concentrations in HIV Patients on HAART. Conference. Unique Relationship Between Plasma Triglyceride and HDL-C Concentrations in HIV Patients on HAART. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2024. A Case Report of Laryngeal Paraganglioma, a Rare Head and Neck Tumor. Conference. Texas Society of Anesthesia. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2007. A Glimpse of South Korea Healthcare: One-Month Preceptorship at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Conference. A Glimpse of South Korea Healthcare: One-Month Preceptorship at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Galveston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2024. A Case Report of Laryngeal Paraganglioma, a Rare Head and Neck Tumor. Poster. Society of Airway Management. Boston, Mass, US.
- 2023. A Case Report of an Unexpected Airway Tumor in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 2. None. San Diego, California, US.
- 2022. The Association between Multimodal Analgesic and Intraoperative Hemodynamic in Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap. Conference. The Association between Multimodal Analgesic and Intraoperative Hemodynamic in Head and Neck Surgery with Free Flap. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2018. Scared to Death: When Bad News can be Deadly. Conference. Scared to Death: When Bad News can be deadly. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2017. ERAS for Head and Neck Surgery. Conference. ERAS for Head and Neck Surgery. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. The Challenge of Managing Emergent Delirium in a Patient with a Difficult Airway. Conference. The Challenge of Managing Emergent Delirium in a Patient with a Difficult Airway. Boston, MA, US.
- 2013. Anesthesia Considerations in a Morbidly Obese Parturient with Significant Coronary Artery Disease and Two Bare Stents Presenting for Cesarean Section. Conference. Anesthesia Considerations in a Morbidly Obese Parturient with Significant Coronary Artery Disease and Two Bare Stents Presenting for Cesarean Section. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2013. Acute Hypotensive Transfusion Reaction with Concomitant Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in a Neurosurgery Case. Conference. Acute Hypotensive Transfusion Reaction with Concomitant Use of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in a Neurosurgery Case. San Francisco, CA, US.
International Presentations
- 2020. A Data Review of Preoperative Multimodal Analgesic Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirements for Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery. Conference. A Data Review of Preoperative Multimodal Analgesic Administration and Perioperative Opioid Requirements for Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery. Prague, CZ.
- 2019. The role of baroreflex dysfunction in airway management. Conference. The role of baroreflex dysfunction in airway management. Amsterdam, NL.
Formal Peers
- 2023. Fire in the OR Simulation. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Malignant Hyperthermia Simulation. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Airway Workshop. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2018. Non-Invasive Cardiac Monitors. Invited. Non-Invasive Cardiac Monitors. Lima, PE.
- 2015. Acute Pain and Regional Workshop. Invited. Acute Pain and Regional Workshop. Kingston, JM.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified February 17, 2025