Dorothea Closhen

About

Dorothea Closhen is a leading anesthesiologist and neuroscientist whose research focuses on the intersection of perioperative medicine and cerebral physiology. Her key contributions center on cerebrovascular autoregulation and cerebral oxygenation during robotic-assisted surgery, particularly in the extreme Trendelenburg position combined with CO₂ pneumoperitoneum. In her highly cited 2013 study (62 citations), Closhen demonstrated that this surgical positioning can impair the brain’s ability to regulate blood flow, raising critical safety concerns about the risk of cerebral hyperaemia or edema. Her complementary work (41 citations) showed that despite these autoregulatory challenges, cerebral oxygenation—measured via two different monitors—remains stable, offering reassurance for clinical practice. These findings have profound implications for patient safety in urologic and gynecologic robotic procedures. Closhen’s rigorous, translational approach bridges bench-to-bedside neuroscience and anesthesiology, making her a pivotal figure in understanding how surgical positioning affects the brain. Her work is essential reading for clinicians and researchers seeking to optimize cerebral protection during minimally invasive surgery.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Time course of cerebrovascular autoregulation during extreme Trendelenburg position for robotic‐assisted prostatic surgery

   62 citations · 2013
2. 2
   Robotic assisted prostatic surgery in the Trendelenburg position does not impair cerebral oxygenation measured using two different monitors

   41 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links