Aaron Hess

Research Interests

Transfusion strategies in bleeding patients
In-vivo red cell labeling
Patient health numeracy
Statistical methods and study design in clinical research

Our research is focused on understanding changes in red cell mass and improving the storage and post-transfusion survival of blood components. Through a collaboration with the Trace Elements group at the Wisconsin State Lab, we are currently investigating novel methods for in-vivo red cell and platelet labeling using non-radioactive chromium isotopes detected with ultra-sensitive sector-field, induction-coupled, plasma mass spectroscopy (SF-ICPMS). I am also interested in how patients’ understanding of numbers – “health numeracy” – is associated with their ability to understand health information and make congruent decisions about their health care. We are currently following a cohort of patients to determine how health numeracy is associated with surgical outcomes, end-of-life planning, and health care utilization.

I also have a personal interest in statistical methods and study design in clinical research.

Clinical Interests

Perioperative bleeding
Transfusion Medicine
Transplant Anesthesiology

Selected Publications

Hess AS, Ramamoorthy J, Connor J, Raife T, Hess JR. Warming and rapid infusion do not decrease stored platelet number or thromboelastogram maximum amplitude. Transfusion. 2019 Sep;59(9):2997-3001.

Hayter RR, Hess AS. Health Numeracy and Relative Risk Comprehension in Perioperative Patients and Physicians [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 16]. Anesth Analg. 2020;10.1213/ANE.0000000000004816. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000004816

Hess AS, Hess JR. Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Transfusion. 2020;60(4):670-672. doi:10.1111/trf.15725

Hess AS. Management. Anesthesiology. 2020;132(4):927-930. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000003134

Hartman WR, Hess AS, Connor JP. Persistent viral RNA shedding after COVID-19 symptom resolution in older convalescent plasma donors [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 13]. Transfusion. 2020;10.1111/trf.15927. doi:10.1111/trf.15927