Winfield John Wells, MD

Winfield J. Wells, M.D., is Associate Professor of Clinical Cardiothoracic Surgery and Associate Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Training Program. He earned his medical degree from USC, and completed his General and Cardiovascular Surgical Training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. He came to Los Angeles in 1977 where he practiced at Childrens Hospital and the Good Samaritan Hospital as part of the teaching faculty for the Good Samaritan based residency-training program. In 1992, Dr. Wells joined Dr. Starnes to form the full-time Academic Cardiothoracic Surgical service at USC.

The author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Wells’ major areas of research interest include congenital heart disease, thoracic transplantation in children, and cryopreserved allograft tissues in congenital heart repair. He is also interested in complex tracheal reconstruction in infants and children.

• Anatomic considerations in the management of complete atrioventricular canal Cardiol Young. 2023 Oct 10; 1-5. . View in PubMed
• Recommendations for centers performing pediatric heart surgery in the United States J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 12; 166(6):1782-1820. . View in PubMed
• Recommendations for Centers Performing Pediatric Heart Surgery in the United States World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2023 09; 14(5):642-679. . View in PubMed
• Fate of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Following Valve-Sparing Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Dec 23. . View in PubMed
• Ross procedure in neonates and infants: A valuable operation with defined limits J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Apr 25. . View in PubMed
• Resident education in congenital heart surgery does not compromise outcomes J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 01; 163(1):251-260. . View in PubMed
• The Surgical Approach to Pulmonary Valve Replacement Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022; 34(4):1256-1261. . View in PubMed
• Biventricular Repair in Interrupted Aortic Arch and Ventricular Septal Defect With a Small Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Ann Thorac Surg. 2021 02; 111(2):637-644. . View in PubMed
• Impact of prior diaphragm plication on subsequent stages of single ventricle palliationJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Nov; 160(5):1291-1296. e1. . View in PubMed
• Simultaneous Systemic to Pulmonary Shunt and Pulmonary Artery Banding is a Viable Option for Neonatal Palliation of Single Ventricle Physiology Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019; 31(2):234-241. . View in PubMed
• Arch Augmentation via Median Sternotomy for Coarctation of Aorta With Proximal Arch Hypoplasia Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 10; 106(4):1214-1219. . View in PubMed
• Liberal Use of Delayed Sternal Closure in Children Is Not Associated With Increased Morbidity Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 08; 106(2):581-586. . View in PubMed
• Need for Pulmonary Arterioplasty During Glenn Independently Predicts Inferior Surgical Outcome Ann Thorac Surg. 2018 07; 106(1):156-164. . View in PubMed
• Outcomes of Reintervention on the Autograft After Ross Procedure Ann Thorac Surg. 2016 Nov; 102(5):1517-1521. . View in PubMed
• Single-Ventricle Outcomes After Neonatal Palliation of Severe Ebstein Anomaly With Modified Starnes Procedure Circulation. 2016 Oct 25; 134(17):1257-1264. . View in PubMed
• Aortopulmonary collaterals: Angiogenesis, or a whole lot more? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Apr; 151(4):1135-6.. View in PubMed
• Reduced pleural drainage, length of stay, and readmissions using a modified Fontan management protocol J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015 Sep; 150(3):481-7. . View in PubMed
• Giant Pseudoaneurysm of Reconstructed Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Aug; 100(2):734. . View in PubMed
• Arterioplasty for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Arterial Switch Is a Durable Procedure Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Jul; 100(1):122-7; discussion 127-8. . View in PubMed
• Age-Related Outcomes of the Ross Procedure Over 20 Years Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Jun; 99(6):2077-83; discussion 2084-5. . View in PubMed
• “The times they are a-changin'” J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015 Jan; 149(1):265-6. . View in PubMed
• Responsible innovation J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Nov; 148(5):2225-6. . View in PubMed
• Invited commentary Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Sep; 96(3):942. . View in PubMed
• Congenital heart disease and heterotaxy: upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy can be misleading and surgery in an asymptomatic patient is not beneficial J Pediatr Surg. 2013 Jan; 48(1):164-9. . View in PubMed
• Invited commentary Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Nov; 94(5):1617-8. . View in PubMed
• Variation in perioperative care across centers for infants undergoing the Norwood procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Oct; 144(4):915-21. . View in PubMed
• A novel reconstruction of the left superior vena cava J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Apr; 143(4):981-2. . View in PubMed
• Pulmonary homograft monocusp reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract: outcomes to the intermediate term Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Jul; 90(1):42-9. . View in PubMed
• Reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with the introduction of an enteral feed protocol Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2010 May; 11(3):373-7. . View in PubMed
• Ascending aortitis and aortic valve endocarditis in an infant J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010 Apr; 139(4):e90-1. . View in PubMed
• Novel use of a vascular plug to anchor an azygous vein ICD lead J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2010 Jan; 21(1):99-102. . View in PubMed
• Obstruction of lateral tunnel fontan by an adjustable occluder device J Card Surg. 2009 Nov-Dec; 24(6):750-2. . View in PubMed
• Can the Kawashima procedure be performed in younger patients? Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 Aug; 88(2):581-6; discussion 586-7.. View in PubMed
• Thoracic duct ligation for persistent chylothorax after pediatric cardiothoracic surgery Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 Jul; 88(1):246-51; discussion 251-2. . View in PubMed
• Cor triatriatum associated with ASD and common atrium in 7-month-old with tachypnea and failure to thrive Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Dec; 86(6):1999. . View in PubMed
• Perioperative course in 118 infants and children undergoing coarctation repair via a thoracotomy: a prospective, multicenter experience J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Nov; 136(5):1229-36. . View in PubMed
• The safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of esmolol for blood pressure control immediately after repair of coarctation of the aorta in infants and children: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Aug; 136(2):321-8. . View in PubMed
• A novel bioresorbable film reduces postoperative adhesions after infant cardiac surgery Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Aug; 86(2):614-21. . View in PubMed
• Role of clinically indicated transbronchial lung biopsies in the management of pediatric post-lung transplant patients Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Jul; 86(1):198-203. . View in PubMed
• Right ventricular exclusion procedure with total cavopulmonary connection: an alternative operative approach in adults with severe Ebstein anomaly J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 May; 135(5):1182-3. . View in PubMed
• Mechanical occlusion of the inferior vena cava: an unusual complication after repair of pectus excavatum using the nuss procedure Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 May; 85(5):1796-8. . View in PubMed
• Hemidiaphragm plication after repair of congenital heart defects in children: quantitative return of diaphragm function over time J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Jan; 135(1):56-61. . View in PubMed
• Fate of the right ventricle after fenestrated right ventricular exclusion for severe neonatal Ebstein anomaly J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 Dec; 134(6):1406-10; discussion 1410-2. . View in PubMed
• A novel approach to the surgical correction of scimitar syndrome J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2007 Feb; 133(2):573-4. . View in PubMed
• Current surgical therapy for Ebstein anomaly in neonates J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006 Dec; 132(6):1285-90. . View in PubMed
• Gastrointestinal morbidity after Norwood palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Mar; 81(3):982-7. . View in PubMed
• Mesenteric blood flow velocities in the newborn with single-ventricle physiology: modified Blalock-Taussig shunt versus right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2006 Mar; 7(2):132-7. . View in PubMed
• Ascending aortic extension for enlargement of the aortopulmonary space in children with pulmonary artery stenosis Ann Thorac Surg. 2005 Nov; 80(5):1647-51. . View in PubMed
• The ethics of living donor lung transplantation Thorac Surg Clin. 2005 Nov; 15(4):519-25. . View in PubMed
• Right ventricular outflow tract resection for treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia in a 2-year-old child J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Sep; 130(3):948-9. . View in PubMed
• Obstruction in modified Blalock shunts: a quantitative analysis with clinical correlation Ann Thorac Surg. 2005 Jun; 79(6):2072-6. . View in PubMed
• Does the site of insertion of a systemic-pulmonary shunt influence growth of the pulmonary arteries? Ann Thorac Surg. 2005 Feb; 79(2):636-40.. View in PubMed
• Ketorolac after congenital heart surgery: does it increase the risk of significant bleeding complications? Paediatr Anaesth. 2005 Feb; 15(2):139-42.. View in PubMed
• Previous thoracic surgery does not increase peri-operative mortality in pediatric heart-lung transplant recipients J Heart Lung Transplant. 2004 Nov; 23(11):1228-30. . View in PubMed
• Successful repair of ectopia cordis using alloplastic materials: 10-year follow-up Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004 Nov; 114(6):1519-22. . View in PubMed
• Use of the Palmaz stent in the treatment of severe tracheomalacia Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2004 Aug; 113(8):641-7. . View in PubMed
• A decade of living lobar lung transplantation: perioperative complications after 253 donor lobectomies Am J Transplant. 2004 Aug; 4(8):1283-8. . View in PubMed
• Risk factors for persistent pleural effusions after the extracardiac Fontan procedure J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Jun; 127(6):1664-9. . View in PubMed
• Determinants of mortality and type of repair in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Apr; 127(4):1000-7; discussion 1007-8. . View in PubMed
• Stenting of the mainstem bronchus in children: a word of caution Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Apr; 77(4):1420-2. . View in PubMed
• Needle embolism to the heart Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Mar; 77(3):1102. . View in PubMed
• Neochordal repair of the posterior mitral leaflet J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Feb; 127(2):440-7. . View in PubMed
• A decade of living lobar lung transplantation: recipient outcomes J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Jan; 127(1):114-22. . View in PubMed
• Management of phrenic nerve stimulation caused by epicardial pacemaker leads in children Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Nov; 76(5):1757-8. . View in PubMed
• Depopulated vena caval homograft: a new venous conduit J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 Aug; 126(2):498-503. . View in PubMed
• Late recovery of atrioventricular conduction after pacemaker implantation for complete heart block associated with surgery for congenital heart disease J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 Jun; 125(6):1291-3. . View in PubMed
• Homograft conduit failure in infants is not due to somatic outgrowth J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2002 Jul; 124(1):88-96. . View in PubMed
• The effect of pleural adhesions on pediatric cystic fibrosis patients undergoing lung transplantation Am Surg. 2001 Dec; 67(12):1136-9. . View in PubMed
• Living donor lung transplantation: selection, technique, and outcome Transplant Proc. 2001 Nov-Dec; 33(7-8):3527-32. . View in PubMed
• Predictors of left ventricular outflow obstruction following single-stage repair of interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect Am J Cardiol. 2000 Nov 01; 86(9):1044-7A11. . View in PubMed
• Arm ischemia after subclavian flap angioplasty: repair by carotid-subclavian bypass Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 May; 69(5):1574-6. . View in PubMed
• Comparison of outcomes between living donor and cadaveric lung transplantation in children Ann Thorac Surg. 1999 Dec; 68(6):2279-83; discussion 2283-4. . View in PubMed
• Impact of respiratory syncytial virus infection on surgery for congenital heart disease: postoperative course and outcome Crit Care Med. 1999 Sep; 27(9):1974-81. . View in PubMed
• And justice for whom? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1999 Feb; 117(2):211-9.. View in PubMed
• Recipient and donor outcomes in living related and unrelated lobar transplantation Transplant Proc. 1998 Aug; 30(5):2261-3. . View in PubMed
• Neonatal thymectomy: does it affect immune function? J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1998 May; 115(5):1041-6.. View in PubMed
• Aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus: a congenital lesion Am J Perinatol. 1998; 15(12):653-9. . View in PubMed
• Experience with living-donor lobar transplantation for indications other than cystic fibrosis J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1997 Dec; 114(6):917-21; discussion 921-2. . View in PubMed
• Continuous versus intermittent furosemide infusion in critically ill infants after open heart operations Ann Thorac Surg. 1997 Oct; 64(4):1133-9. . View in PubMed
• Successful repair of ectopia cordis using alloplastic materials Ann Plast Surg. 1997 May; 38(5):518-22. . View in PubMed
• The clamshell incision for bilateral pulmonary artery reconstruction in tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1997 Mar; 113(3):443-52. . View in PubMed
• Living-donor lobar lung transplantation experience: intermediate results J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1996 Nov; 112(5):1284-90; discussion 1290-1. . View in PubMed
• Aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft in children with complex left heart obstruction Ann Thorac Surg. 1996 Aug; 62(2):442-8; discussion 448-9. . View in PubMed
• Repair of coarctation of the aorta in adults: the fate of systolic hypertension Ann Thorac Surg. 1996 Apr; 61(4):1168-71. . View in PubMed
• Cervical thymic cyst: case reports and review of the literature Laryngoscope. 1996 Mar; 106(3 Pt 1):247-52. . View in PubMed
• One-stage repair of interrupted aortic arch, ventricular septal defect, and subaortic obstruction in the neonate: a novel approach J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1996 Feb; 111(2):348-58. . View in PubMed
• Truncus arteriosus with total anomalous pulmonary venous return and interrupted arch Ann Thorac Surg. 1996 Jan; 61(1):220-2. . View in PubMed
• Successful use of transesophageal echocardiography during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants after cardiac operations J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1995 May; 109(5):846-8. . View in PubMed
• Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary arterySignificance of intercoronary collaterals. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994 Jul; 108(1):17-20. . View in PubMed
• Transesophageal echocardiography in the postoperative child with an open sternum Ann Thorac Surg. 1994 Jul; 58(1):235-6. . View in PubMed
• Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia, atrial septal defect, and severe episodic cyanosis Ann Thorac Surg. 1994 Jun; 57(6):1651-3. . View in PubMed
• Living-related donor lobectomy for bilateral lobar transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis Ann Thorac Surg. 1994 Jun; 57(6):1423-7; discussion 1428. . View in PubMed
• Aspergillosis of the posterior mediastinum Ann Thorac Surg. 1994 May; 57(5):1240-3. . View in PubMed
• Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act Ann Thorac Surg. 1991 Aug; 52(2):360-1. . View in PubMed
• Surgical problems of endocarditis in children J Card Surg. 1989 Dec; 4(4):313-6. . View in PubMed
• Massive venous air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass Ann Thorac Surg. 1981 Jan; 31(1):86-9. . View in PubMed

• Starnes, Vaughn
• Demetriades, Demetrios