Tom Danau

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tom Danau is a thoracic surgeon whose work focuses on the intersection of minimally invasive surgery and electrophysiology complications, particularly phrenic nerve injury following cardiac ablation. His key research areas include diaphragm paralysis management, cryoballoon ablation complications, and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. Danau’s most notable contribution is his pioneering work on robot-assisted thoracoscopic diaphragm plication for symptomatic paralysis after cryoballoon ablation—a procedure that addresses a critical, underrecognized complication. His 2019 paper on this technique, though with modest citation counts, serves as a key teaching resource for electrophysiologists and thoracic surgeons alike, highlighting the high risk of phrenic nerve injury, especially on the right side due to anatomical proximity. Danau emphasizes that diaphragm paralysis as an isolated radiologic finding should not be treated, reserving intervention for symptomatic cases. His work bridges the gap between cardiac ablation outcomes and surgical solutions, offering a clear, reproducible approach to a challenging clinical problem. For students and researchers, Danau’s contributions underscore the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and the growing role of robotics in managing iatrogenic injuries.