J. Matthias Walz, M.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor and Director of Vascular Anesthesia
Faculty Appointment(s) and Affiliations:

Following graduation from medical school in Germany and one year of residency training in anesthesia and critical care there, I had the opportunity to come to UMass to continue my education.  This turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made since I received outstanding training at this institution.  After completing a surgical internship, I went on to complete an anesthesia residency and a critical care fellowship.

In the operating room, my focus is vascular, thoracic and transplant anesthesia.  I enjoy teaching advanced airway management techniques for lung isolation, the management of the difficult airway and cardiopulmonary physiology with an emphasis on targeted hemodynamic management for the high-risk vascular surgery patient.  The ICU is also a fascinating working environment and where I am confronted with a diverse patient population and complex medical problems on a daily basis.

My research interests are currently focused on the validation of a novel noninvasive monitor based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) that can provide accurate information about microvascular blood flow and tissue oxygenation.  The monitor was developed by Dr. Babs Soller in our department and may prove to be an excellent tool to monitor the impairment of microvascular blood flow found in severe sepsis and septic shock, which appears to be one of the central factors in the genesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).  Furthermore, this monitor is a very sensitive indicator of hypovolemia in humans and we are in the process of designing clinical trials to determine whether data provided by this technology can provide accurate endpoints of resuscitation.  In addition, we are also involved in the study of antiinfective central venous catheters to reduce the rate of catheter related bloodstream infections in the ICU.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three daughters, as well as mountainbiking, tennis and skiing.

Selected Publications

Memtsoudis S, Liu SS, Ma Y, Chiu YL, Walz JM, Gaber-Baylis LK, Mazumdar M. Perioperative pulmonary outcomes in patients with sleep apnea after noncardiac surgery. Anesth Analg 2011; 112:113-21

Memtsoudis SG, Ma Y, Chiu YL, Walz JM, Voswinckel R, Mazumdar M. Perioperative mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing major joint replacement. Anesth Analg 2010; 111:1110-6.

Walz JM, Avelar RL, Longtine KJ, Carter KL, Mermel LA, Heard SO; 5-FU Catheter Study Group. Anti-infective external coating of central venous catheters: a randomized, noninferiority trial comparing 5-fluorouracil with chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine in preventing catheter colonization. Crit Care Med 2010; 38:2095-102.

Matheos T, Walz JM, Adams JP, Johnson K, Longtine K, Longtine J, O'Neill M, Heard SO. Comparison of the duration of antimicrobial activity of 2 different antimicrobial central venous catheters. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010; 31:295-7.

Walz JM, Memtsoudis SG, Heard SO. Prevention of central venous catheter bloodstream infections. J Intensive Care Med 2010; 25:131-8.

Walz JM, Faris K, Heard SO. Who let the bugs in? Crit Care Med 2008; 36:2689-90.

Soller BR, Yang Y, Soyemi OO, Ryan KL, Rickards CA, Walz JM, Heard SO, Convertino VA. Noninvasively determined muscle oxygen saturation is an early indicator of central hypovolemia in humans. J Appl Physiol 2008; 104:475-81.

Soller BR, Hagan RD, Shear M, Walz JM, Landry M, Anunciacion D, Orquiola A, Heard SO. Comparison of intramuscular and venous blood pH, PCO(2) and PO(2) during rhythmic handgrip exercise. Physiol Meas 2007; 28:639-49.

Memtsoudis SG, Rosenberger P, Walz JM. Critical care issues in the patient after major joint replacement. J Intensive Care Med 2007; 22:92-104.

Walz JM, Zayaruzny M, Heard SO. Airway management in critical illness. Chest 2007; 131:616-628.

Soller BR, Hagan RD, Shear M, Walz JM, Landry M, Anuncion D, Orquiola A, Heard SO. Comparison of intramuscular and venous blood pH, PCO2 and PO2 during rhythmic handgrip exercise. Physiol Meas 2007; 28:1-11.

Soller BR, Yang Y, Landry MR, Walz JM, Soyemi OO, Scott P, Heard SO, Mullen M. Noninvasive measurement of venous pH in septic patients: preliminary results. Crit Care Med 2006; 34(12 Suppl), A55.

Soller BR, Soyemi OO, Landry MR, Yang Y, Walz JM, Scott P, Heard SO, Mullen M. Noninvasive muscle oxygen saturation is correlated with lactate, not ScvO₂ in septic patients. Crit Care Med 2006; 34(12 Suppl), A54.

Walz JM, Convertino VA, Ryan KL, Soyemi O, Yang Y, Heard SO, Soller BR. Intramuscular PO₂ determined by near infrared spectroscopy is an early indicator of hemodynamic instability in a lower body negative pressure model of hemorrhagic shock. Shock 2006; 26(Suppl 1):16.

Walz JM, Paterson CA, Seligowski JM, Heard SO. Factors associated with postoperative surgical site infection following bowel surgery: a retrospective analysis of 1446 patients. Arch Surg 2006; 141:1014-1018.

Matheos T, Orquiola A, Walz JM, Adams J, Heard SO. Durability of antiseptic central venous catheters as a function of duration of catheterization: silver/carbon/platinum versus minocycline/rifampin. Chest 2005; 128:195S.

Walz JM, Foley P, Hirsh M, Habib F. Anesthetic management of pediatric patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Anesth Analg 2004; 98:S-215.

Walz JM, Conlan AA, McNamee CJ. Hemoptysis in the intensive care unit: etiology and outcome in a series of 115 patients. Chest 2004; 126:869S.

Matheos T, Walz JM, Longtine JK, Longtine KJ, O'Neill MA, Adams JP, Heard SO, Johnson KM. A comparison of the effectiveness of two anti-infective catheters on catheter-related infection. Crit Care Med 2004; 32:A159.

Walz JM, Fontecchio S, Heard SO. Use of catheters impregnated with minocycline and rifampin and the risk of fungemia. Crit Care Med 2002; 29:12.

Gerhardt H, Walz JM, Faigle M, Northoff H, Wolburg H, Neumeister B. Localization of Legionella bacteria within ribosome-studded phagosomes is not restricted to Legionella pneumophila. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2000; 192:145-152.

Walz JM, Gerhardt H, Faigle M, Northoff H, Wolburg H, Neumeister B. Legionella species of different human prevalence induce different rates of apoptosis in human monocytic cells. APMIS 2000; 108:398-408.

Academic Background

M.D., Eberhard Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany, 1999.

Postdoctoral Training

UMass Memorial Medical Center, Residency in Anesthesiology, 2001-2004
UMass Memorial Medical Center, Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine, 2004-2005

Office: H7-523
Phone: 774-442-3517
EMail:  Matthias.Walz@umassmemorial.org