Fritz Karrer, MD

Recognitions

• Order of Military Medical Merit, U.S. Army (2022)
  The OMMM recognizes excellence and promotes fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department (AMEDD) personnel. Membership in the Order denotes distinguished service recognized by the senior leadership of the AMEDD and is signified with the presentation of a white brass or sterling silver medallion on a maroon ribbon.
• Meritorious Service Medal, U.S. Army (2022)
  The MSM is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves with outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States.
• Army Commendation Medal (fifth award), U.S. Army (2022)
  The ARCOM is a military decoration awarded to U.S. Army personnel for meritorious service, achievement, or heroism.
• Top Doctors, 5280 Magazine (2023)
  5280 partners with Castle Connolly, a health care research and information company, to create the list. All metro-area doctors are surveyed, and asked, specialty by specialty, which metro-area physicians they would trust to treat them or their families.
• James E, Strain Award, Children' Hospital Colorado (2019)
  The James E. Strain Award is bestowed annually to a Children’s Hospital Colorado practitioner who exemplifies the ideals of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its advocacy for child health.

Research Interests

Liver and biliary surgery in children

Publications

• Campsen J, Zimmerman MA, Narkewicz MR, Sokol RJ, Mandell MS, Kam I, Dovel D, Karrer FM: Choledochoduodenostomy in pediatric liver transplantation. Journal of Pediatric Transplantation 15(3), May 2011: 237-39.
• Wood J, Partrick DA, Hays T, Sauaia A, Karrer FM, Ziegeler MM: Comtemporary pediatric splenectomy: continuing controversies Pediatric Surgery International 27(11): 1165-1171.
• Brindley SM, Lanham AM, Karrer FM, Tucker Rm, Fontenot AP, Mack CL: Cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell reactivity in biliary atresia at the time of diagnosis is associated with deficits in regulatory T cells Hepatology. 55(4): 1130-1138, 2012
• Bansal, S., Banever T., Karrer, FM., Partrick D.: Appendicitis in children less than 5 years old: influence of age on presentation and outcome. The American Journal of Surgery 204 (6): 1031-1035, 2012
• Brumbaugh, D., Colson, S., Sandoval, J., Frederick, K., Bealer, J.F., Litovitz, T., Kramer, R. Management of Button Battery Induced Hemorrhage in Children, J. of Pediatr Gastroenterology & Nutrition, 52(5):585-9, 2011
• Campsen J, Zimmerman MA, Narkewicz MR, Sokol RJ, Mandell MS, Kam I, Dovel D, Karrer FM: Choledochoduodenostomy in pediatric liver transplantation. Journal of Pediatric Transplantation. 15(3):237-9, 2011
• Sandoval JA, Karrer FM: Liver resection. Operative Pediatric Surgery (ed. Lewis Spitz and Arnold Coran), submitted 2011.
• Roach J, Karrer FM: Portal Hypertension. Operative Pediatric Surgery, Chapter 68, (ed. Lewis Spitz and Arnold Coran), Submitted 2011
• Jones SA, Karrer FM: Biliary Atresia and Choledochal Cyst. Operative Pediatric Surgery, editors Ziegler MZ, Azizkhan RG, Weber T, von Allmen D. Submitted 2011
• Superina R, Magee J, Healey P, Tiao G, Ryckman F, Karrer FM, Li Y, Moore J, Brandt ML, Wang KS: The Anatomic Pattern Of Biliary Atresia Identified At Time Of Kasai Hepatoportoenterostomy And Early Postoperative Clearance Of Jaundice Are Significant Predictors Of Transplant-free Survival. Annals of Surgery 254(4), 2011: 577-585.
• Acker SN, Bruny JL, Narkewicz MR, Roach JP, Rogers A, Karrer FM. Preoperative imaging does not predict intrahepatic involvement in choledochal cysts. J Pediatr Surg. 2013 Dec;48(12):2378-82. PubMed PMID: 24314174
• Roach JP, Karrer FM. Abdominal organ transplantation in children. Adv Pediatr. 2013;60(1):297-310. PubMed PMID: 24007851
• Sundaram SS, Alonso EM, Haber B, Magee JC, Fredericks E, Kamath B, Kerkar N, Rosenthal P, Shepherd R, Limbers C, Varni JW, Robuck P, Sokol RJ, Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network (ChiLDREN). Health related quality of life in patients with biliary atresia surviving with their native liver. J Pediatr. 2013 Oct;163(4):1052-7.e2. PubMed PMID: 23746866
• Narkewicz MR, Green M, Dunn S, Millis M, McDiarmid S, Mazariegos G, Anand R, Yin W, Studies of Pediatric Liver Transplantation Research Group. Decreasing incidence of symptomatic Epstein-Barr virus disease and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric liver transplant recipients: report of the studies of pediatric liver transplantation experience. Liver Transpl. 2013 Jul;19(7):730-40. PubMed PMID: 23696264
• Roach JP, Acker SN, Bensard DD, Sirotnak AP, Karrer FM, Partrick DA. Head injury pattern in children can help differentiate accidental from non-accidental trauma. Pediatr Surg Int. 2014 Nov;30(11):1103-6. PubMed PMID: 25252922
• Medical status of 219 children with biliary atresia surviving long-term with their native livers: results from a North American multicenter consortium. Ng VL, Haber BH, Magee JC, Miethke A, Murray KF, Michail S, Karpen SJ, Kerkar N, Molleston JP, Romero R, Rosenthal P, Schwarz KB, Shneider BL, Turmelle YP, Alonso EM, Sherker AH, Sokol RJ; Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network (CHiLDREN). J Pediatr. 2014 Sep;165(3):539-546.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.05.038. Epub 2014 Jul 9. Erratum in: J Pediatr. 2015 Jan;166(1):211.
• Use of corticosteroids after hepatoportoenterostomy for bile drainage in infants with biliary atresia: the START randomized clinical trial. Bezerra JA, Spino C, Magee JC, Shneider BL, Rosenthal P, Wang KS, Erlichman J, Haber B, Hertel PM, Karpen SJ, Kerkar N, Loomes KM, Molleston JP, Murray KF, Romero R, Schwarz KB, Shepherd R, Suchy FJ, Turmelle YP, Whitington PF, Moore J, Sherker AH, Robuck PR, Sokol RJ; Childhood Liver Disease Research and Education Network (ChiLDREN). JAMA. 2014 May 7;311(17):1750-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.2623
• Stewart CL, Acker SN, Pyle LL, Kulungowski A, Cadnapaphornchai M, Bruny JL, Karrer F. Factors associated with peritoneal dialysis catheter complications in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Jan;51(1):159-62. PubMed PMID: 26572851
• Acker SN, Roach JP, Partrick DA, Karrer FM, Bensard DD, Sirotnak AP. Beyond morbidity and mortality: the social and legal outcomes of non-accidental trauma. J Pediatr Surg. 2015 Apr;50(4):604-7. PubMed PMID: 25840071
• Bansal S, Karrer FM, Hansen K, Partrick DA. Contrast blush in pediatric blunt splenic trauma does not warrant the routine use of angiography and embolization. Am J Surg. 2015 Aug;210(2):345-50. PubMed PMID: 25827492
• Roach JP, Acker SN, Bensard DD, Sirotnak AP, Karrer FM, Partrick DA. Head injury pattern in children can help differentiate accidental from non-accidental trauma. Pediatr Surg Int. 2014 Nov;30(11):1103-6. PubMed PMID: 25252922
• Ng VL, Haber BH, Magee JC, Miethke A, Murray KF, Michail S, Karpen SJ, Kerkar N, Molleston JP, Romero R, Rosenthal P, Schwarz KB, Shneider BL, Turmelle YP, Alonso EM, Sherker AH, Sokol RJ. Medical status of 219 children with biliary atresia surviving long-term with their native livers: results from a North American multicenter consortium. J Pediatr. 2014 Sep;165(3):539-546.e2. PubMed PMID: 25015575
• Wang KS, Tiao G, Bass LM, Hertel PM, Mogul D, Kerkar N, Clifton M, Azen C, Bull L, Rosenthal P, Stewart D, Superina R, Arnon R, Bozic M, Brandt ML, Dillon PA, Fecteau A, Iyer K, Kamath B, Karpen S, Karrer F, Loomes KM, Mack C, Mattei P, Miethke A, Soltys K, Turmelle YP, West K, Zagory J, Goodhue C, Shneider BL. Analysis of surgical interruption of the enterohepatic circulation as a treatment for pediatric cholestasis. Hepatology. 2016 Dec 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28027587
• Stewart CL, Acker SN, Pyle LL, Kulungowski A, Cadnapaphornchai M, Bruny JL, Karrer F. Factors associated with peritoneal dialysis catheter complications in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2016 Jan;51(1):159-62. PubMed PMID: 26572851
• Acton R, Ladd A, Karrer FM: Choledochal Cysts. In Hirschl R, Powell D, Waldhausen J (eds): Pediatric Surgery NaT - E-textbook published by American Pediatric Surgical Association and Unbound Medicine, Inc.
• Roach J, Partrick D, Karrer F: Hepatic Cysts and Abscesses. In Puri P (ed): Newborn Surgery, 4th Ed., Heinemann Medical Books, London.
• Karrer FM, Caulkins CM, Potter DD: Pediatric Duodenal Atresia. In Windle ML, Piccoli DA, Cuffari C (eds): Medscape LLC, New York
• Karrer FM, Jones SA: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome. In Windle ML, Li BUK, Cuffari C (eds): Medscape LLC, New York
• Wang KS, Shneider BL, Azen CG, Arnon R, Karrer FM, et al. Analysis of surgical interruption of the enterohepatic circulation as a treatment for pediatric cholestasis: A retrospective, multi-institutional study. Journal of Hepatology
• Karrer FM, Wallace BJ, Estrada AE. Late complications of biliary atresia: hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension. Pediatr Surg Int. 2017 Dec;33(12):1335-1340. PubMed PMID: 28983709
• Deeney S, Stewart C, Treece AL, Black JO, Lovell MA, Garrington T, Karrer F, Bruny J. Diagnostic utility of core needle biopsy versus open wedge biopsy for pediatric intraabdominal solid tumors: Results of a prospective clinical study. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 Dec;52(12):2042-2046. PubMed PMID: 28943139
• Wang KS, Tiao G, Bass LM, Hertel PM, Mogul D, Kerkar N, Clifton M, Azen C, Bull L, Rosenthal P, Stewart D, Superina R, Arnon R, Bozic M, Brandt ML, Dillon PA, Fecteau A, Iyer K, Kamath B, Karpen S, Karrer F, Loomes KM, Mack C, Mattei P, Miethke A, Soltys K, Turmelle YP, West K, Zagory J, Goodhue C, Shneider BL. Analysis of surgical interruption of the enterohepatic circulation as a treatment for pediatric cholestasis. Hepatology. 2017 May;65(5):1645-1654. PubMed PMID: 28027587
• Karrer, FM, Jones SA. Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome. In Windle ML, Li BUK, Cuffari (eds), Medscape LLC. New York, 2017. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/932220-overview
• Ng VL, Sorensen LG, Alonso EM, Fredericks EM, Ye W, Moore J, Karpen SJ, Shneider BL, Molleston JP, Bezerra JA, Murray KF, Loomes KM, Rosenthal P, Squires RH, Wang K, Arnon R, Schwarz KB, Turmelle YP, Haber BH, Sherker AH, Magee JC, Sokol RJ. Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Young Children with Biliary Atresia and Native Liver: Results from the ChiLDReN Study. J Pediatr. 2018 May;196:139-147.e3. PubMed PMID: 29519540
• Karrer FM, Roach JP. Error traps and culture of safety in biliary atresia. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2019 Jun;28(3):135-138. PubMed PMID: 31171147
• Derderian SC, Benge MJ, Karrer FM, Acker SN, Roach JP. Filling the gap: Objective data to guide pediatric surgery applicants who do not match on the first attempt. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 May 11. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31126685
• Ogle SB, Karrer FM. Pediatric Duodenal Atresia, Medscape [in press] from https;//emedicine.Medscape.com/article/932917
• Derderian SC, Karrer FM. Biliary Trauma, Medscape [in press] from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/434014
• Karrer FM, Derderian SC. Biliary Trauma. In Geibel J (ed): Medscape LLC, New York. Updated February 2020. https://emedicine.qa01.medscape.com/article/434014-overview
• Karrer FM, Ogle S: Pediatric Duodenal Atresia. In Windle ML, Piccoli DA, Cuffari C(eds): Medscape LLC, New York, Updated February 2020. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/932917-overview
• Michael E. Johnston II MD, Charissa Lake, Fritz Karrer, MD, Gregory Tiao, MD. Management of fetal and neonatal biliary atresia. In Fetal and Neonatal Surgery (or Prenatal Pediatrics): Diagnosis and Management of Fetal and Neonatal Anomalies.
• Primary vs. Salvage Liver Transplantation for Biliary Atresia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery (Accepted)
• Impact of Biliary Reconstruction Technique on Tacrolimus Absorption in Pediatric Liver Transplantation. American Society of Transplant Surgeons
• Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipient Factors That Influence Post-Transplant Tacrolimus Absorption. American Society of Transplant Surgeons
• Nonfasted Liver Stiffness Correlates with Liver Disease Parameters and Portal Hypertension in Pediatric Cholestatic Liver Disease. Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN). Hepatol Commun. 2020 Aug 5;4(11):1694-1707. doi: 10.1002/hep4.1574. eCollection 2020 Nov. PMID: 33163838
• Ng VL, Alonso EM, Bucuvalas, JC, Cohen G, Limbers CA, Varni JW, Mazariegos G, Magee J, McDiarmid SV, Anand R, SPLIT Research Group (Karrer FM). Health status of children alive 10 years after pediatric liver transplantation perfeormed in pediatric liver transplantation performed in the U.S. and Canada: Report of the studies of pediatric liver transplantation experience. Journal of Pediatrics 160 (5): 820-6, 2012
• Roach J, Karrer FM. Pediatric Abdominal Transplantation. Advances in Pediatrics, 2013, Superior mesenterict
• Acker S, Bruny J, Narkewicz M, Roach J, Rogers A, Karrer FM. Preoperative imagine does not predict in trahepatic involvement in choledochal cysts. (abstract) Oral Presentation accepted at Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons 45th Annual Meeting. Hunter Valley Australia. April 7-11, 2013
• Jones SA, Karrer FM. Bilary Atresia and Choledochal Cyst. Operative Pediatric Surgery. Ed Zigeler MM, Azizkhan RG, Weber T, VouAllmeu D, McGraw-Hill, submitted 2011 (in press)
• 138. Yoeli D, Choudhury R, Sundaram S, Roach J, Karrer F, Wachs M, Adams M: Primary vs salvage liver transplantation for biliary atresia: a retrospective cohort study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, J Pediatr Surg. 2022 Jan 10;S0022-3468(22)00004-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.12.027
• 139. Shneider BL, Goodrich NP, Ye W, Sawyers C, Molleston JP, Merion RM, Leung DH, Karpen SJ, Kamath BM, Cavallo L, Wang K, Teckman JH, Squires JE, Sundaram SS, Rosenthal P, Romero R, Murray KF, Loomes KM, Jensen MK, Bezerra JA, Bass LM, Sokol RJ, Magee JC, For the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (Karrer F): Nonfasted liver stiffness correlates with liver disease parameters and portal hypertension in pediatric cholestatic liver disease. Hepatology Communications
• Sandoval JA, Karrer FM. Liver Resection Operative Pediatric Surgery, ed Spitz L, Coran A. Hodder Arnold Health Sciences, submitted 2011 (in press)
• Roach JP, Karrer FM. Management of Portal Hypertension, ed Spitz L, Coran A. Hodder Arnold Health Sciences, submitted 2011 (in press)
• Karrer, FM. Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome. emedicine.medscaape.com. September 4th, 2012
• Oh AS, Schauer SG, Adelgais K, Fletcher JL, Karrer FM. Pediatric trauma surgery in Iraq and Afghanistan: Mortality, indicators, and most common operating room interventions from 2007 to 2016. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2023 Aug 1;95(2S Suppl 1):S66-S71. PubMed PMID: 37219539
• Pediatric duodenal atresia. emedicine.medscape.com. March 5th, 2012
• Yoeli D, Choudhury RA, Sundaram SS, Mack CL, Roach JP, Karrer FM, Wachs ME, Adams MA. Corrigendum to "Primary vs. Salvage Liver Transplantation for Biliary Atresia: A Retrospective Cohort Study" J Pediatr Surg 57 (2022) 407-413. J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Jan;59(1):165. PubMed PMID: 37838616
• Ziogas IA, Moore HB, Yoeli D, Karrer FM, Taylor S, Baimas-George M, Feldman AG, Boster JM, Wachs ME, Adams MA: Postoperative fibrinolytic resistance is associated with biliary strictures after pediatric liver transplantation: A prospective observational study. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2024 (In Press).
• Karrer FM. Management of Fetal and Neonatal Biliary Atresia. In Crombleholme TM, Lim FY, Peiro JL, Simpson L, Rintoul NE (eds): Fetal and Neonatal Surgery and Medicine, 1st edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 2024
• Witte A, Calkins C, Karrer FM. Pediatric Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies, from Medscape. 2024. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/933015-overview
• Kids and Guns, Presented to 49th Annual Rocky Mountain Trauma and Emergency Medicine Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado, June 6, 2023
• Molleston JP, Goodrich NP, Ye W, Magee J, Leung DH, Kamath B, Karrer FM, Sokol R, Karpen S, Ye W, Shneider BL for the ChiLDReN Consortium: Prospective analysis of liver stiffness measurement by vibration controlled transient elastography as a predictor of outcomes in biliary atresia. Hepatology

Professional Memberships

• American College of Surgeons (ACS), Fellow
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Fellow
• American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA), Member
• American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), Member

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Children's Hospital Colorado South Campus - Highlands Ranch
1811 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
720-478-1234

Children's Hospital Colorado North Campus - Broomfield
469 State Highway 7
Broomfield, CO 80023
720-478-5000

Denver Health
777 Bannock St
Denver, CO 80204
303-436-6000

Saint Joseph Hospital
1375 E. 19th Avenue
Denver, CO 80218
303-812-2000

Hospital Affiliation

• Children's Hospital Colorado
• Denver Health Medical Center
• UCHealth Memorial Hospital
• University of Colorado Hospital
• Saint Joseph Hospital

Center Affiliations

• Center for Children's Surgery

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Surgery, Board Certification (1987)
• Pediatric Surgery, Board Certification (1990)
• Surgical Critical Care, Board Certification (1990)
• Advanced Trauma Life Support, Specialized Training (2020)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Specialized Training (2020)
• Basic Life Support, Specialized Training (2022)

Conditions & Treatments

• Surgery
• Critical Care
• Surgery - Major Liver Surgery (Hepatobiliary)
• Surgery - Laparoscopic Surgery
• Surgery - Trauma and Acute Care
• Digestive System - Biliary Atresia
• Digestive System
• Digestive System - Biliary Surgery
• Digestive System - Choledochal Cysts
• Digestive System - Epigastric & Umbilical Hernias
• Digestive System - Gastroenterology (Stomach, Bowel, General GI Problems)
• Digestive System - Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Digestive System - Hepatobiliary and Minimally Invasive Services
• Digestive System - Hernia
• Digestive System - Intestinal Failure / Short Bowel Syndrome
• Digestive System - Liver Cysts
• Digestive System - Liver Resection
• Digestive System - Pancreas Surgery
• Digestive System - Benign Liver Tumors
• Injuries and Wounds - Acute Wounds
• Injuries and Wounds
• Surgery - Complex Abdominal/Open Surgery
• Surgery - Hemodialysis access surgeries
• Surgery - Rex Shunt or Meso-portal Shunt