Robert Friesen, MD

Professor Emeritus, Anesthesiology

FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine (1972)
Undergraduate School
  • AB, Duke University (NC) (1968)
Internship
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program (1973)
Residency
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Anesthesiology (1975)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado, Pediatric Anesthesiology (1976)
Languages
English
Department
Anesthesiology

Recognitions

  • Outstanding Service Award, Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society (2013)
  • Honorary Membership, Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (2015)
    Lifetime achievement award

Publications

  • Teng SN, Kaufman J Azaja AS, Friesen RH, da Cruz EM. Propofol as a bridge to extubation for high risk children with congenital heart disease. Cardiol Young 2011;21:46-51.
  • DuMond AA, da Cruz E, Almodovar MC, Friesen RH. Femoral artery catheterization in neonates and infants. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2012;13:39-41.
  • Cardwell K, Pan Z, Boucher R, Zuk J, Friesen RH. Screening by pulse CO-oximetry for environmental tobacco smoke exposure in preanesthetic children. Pediatr Anesth (in press).
  • Friesen RH. Congenital heart disease. In Duke JC (ed): Anesthesia Secrets. 4th edition. Hanley & Belfus, Inc., Philadelphia, 2011
  • Takatsuki S, Parker DK, Doran AK, Friesen RH, Ivy DD. Acute pulmonary vasodilator testing with inhaled treprostinil in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pediatr Cardiol 2013;34:1006-1012
  • Friesen RH, Nichols CS, Twite MD, Cardwell KA, Pan Z, Pietra B, Miyamoto SD, Darst JR, Auerbach SR, Ivy DD. Hemodynamic response to dexmedetomidine loading dose in children with and without pulmonary hypertension. Anesth Analg 2013;117:953-959
  • Twite MD, Friesen RH. The anesthetic management of children with pulmonary hypertension in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Anesthesiol Clin 2014;32:157–173
  • Schwartz LI, Friesen RH. Congenital heart disease. In Duke JC (ed): Anesthesia Secrets. 5th edition. Hanley & Belfus, Inc., Philadelphia, (in press).
  • Cardwell K, Pan Z, Boucher R, Zuk J, Friesen RH. Screening by pulse CO-oximetry for environmental tobacco smoke exposure in preanesthetic children. Pediatr Anesth 2012;22:859-864.
  • Williams GD, Friesen RH. Administration of ketamine to children with pulmonary hypertension is safe: pro-con debate. Pediatr Anesth 2012;22:1042-1052
  • Takatsuki S, Parker DK, Doran AK, Friesen RH, Ivy DD. Acute pulmonary vasodilator testing with inhaled treprostinil in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pediatr Cardiol 2012: DOI 10.1007/s00246-012-0597-9
  • Twite MD, Friesen RH. The anesthetic management of children with pulmonary hypertension in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Anesthesiol Clin 2014;32:157–173
  • Friesen RH. Anesthetic drugs in congenital heart disease. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2014;18:363–370
  • Schwartz LI, Friesen RH. Congenital heart disease. In Duke JC (ed): Anesthesia Secrets. 5th edition. Hanley & Belfus, Inc., Philadelphia, 2014 (in press).
  • Twite MD, Friesen RH. Anesthesia for pulmonary hypertension. In Andropoulos DB (ed): Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Disease. 3rd edition. John Wiley, 2015 (in press).
  • Friesen RH, Twite MD. A word of caution: dexmedetomidine and pulmonary hypertension [letter]. Anesth Analg 2014; 119:217-218.
  • Friesen RH. Herbert Rackow and Ernest Salanitre: the emergence of pediatric anesthesia as a specialty in the United States. Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 Jul;25(7):663-7. PubMed PMID: 25736027
  • Friesen RH, Twite MD, Nichols CS, Cardwell KA, Pan Z, Darst JR, Wilson N, Fagan TE, Miyamoto SD, Ivy DD. Hemodynamic response to ketamine in children with pulmonary hypertension. Paediatr Anaesth. 2015 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26564806
  • Hemodynamic response to ketamine in children with pulmonary hypertension. Friesen RH, Twite MD, Nichols CS, Cardwell KA, Pan Z, Darst JR, Wilson N, Fagan TE, Miyamoto SD, Ivy DD. Paediatr Anaesth. 2016 Jan;26(1):102-8. doi: 10.1111/pan.12799. Epub 2015 Nov 13. PMID: 26564806
  • A Decline in Intraoperative Renal Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Children Following Cardiac Surgery. Gist KM, Kaufman J, da Cruz EM, Friesen RH, Crumback SL, Linders M, Edelstein C, Altmann C, Palmer C, Jalal D, Faubel S. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2016 Apr;17(4):342-9. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000000674. PMID: 26914625
  • Remifentanil and propofol undergo separation and layering when mixed in the same syringe for total intravenous anesthesia. O'Connor S, Zhang YL, Christians U, Morrison JE Jr, Friesen RH. Paediatr Anaesth. 2016 Jul;26(7):703-9. doi: 10.1111/pan.12917. Epub 2016 May 5. PMID: 27146802
  • Friesen RH. Landmark Papers in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia: Documenting the History of the Specialty. Pediatr Anesth 2016 (in press). Early online: 13 OCT 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/pan.13011
  • Clopton RJ, Ing R, Friesen RH. The anesthetic challenges of lung biopsy associated intrathoracic hemorrhage in a child with suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2016: (in press).
  • Friesen RH, Slavov D, Miyamoto SD, Ing RJ, LaRiviere WB, Taylor MRG. Lack of Association Between Adrenoreceptor Genotype and the Vasoconstriction Response to Dexmedetomidine. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2017 May 1;:1089253217708621. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28482761
  • Glenski TA, Diehl C, Clopton RG, Friesen RH. Breathing circuit compliance and accuracy of displayed tidal volume during pressure-controlled ventilation of infants: A quality improvement project. Paediatr Anaesth. 2017 Sep;27[9]:935-941. PubMed PMID: 28504341
  • Christensen LK, Armstead VE, Bilyeu DP, Johnson KE, Friesen RH. Hemodynamic responses and plasma phenylephrine concentrations associated with intranasal phenylephrine in children. Paediatr Anaesth. 2017 Jul;27(7):768-773. PubMed PMID: 28504321
  • Clopton RG, Friesen R, Partrick D, Wilson N, Jaggers J, Ivy DD, Schwartz LI, Ing RJ. The Anesthetic Challenges of Lung Biopsy-Associated Intrathoracic Hemorrhage in a Child With Suprasystemic Pulmonary Hypertension. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2017 Jun;21(2):172-177. PubMed PMID: 27815350
  • Anderson BJ, Christensen LK, Armstead VE, Bilyeu DP, Johnson KE, Friesen RH. The phenylephrine concentration-response relationship for blood pressure after nasal delivery in children. Paediatr Anaesth 2017 Oct;27(10):1050-1055. PMID: 28868789

Professional Memberships

  • Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society, Director
  • Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, Member
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists, Member
  • International Anesthesia Research Society, Member

Practice Locations

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

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Anesthesiology, Board Certification (1976)
  • Pediatric Anesthesiology, Board Certification (2013)
Clinical Interests
I am interested in providing anesthetic care for children with congenital and acquired heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.

Care Philosophy
I strive to provide expert and compassionate anesthetic care to children and babies undergoing cardiac procedures. I know that this is a stressful time for families, and I hope to reassure them that their children are receiving the best care possible.


School of Medicine

CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Aurora, CO 80045

303.724.5375

School
General
Students