Research
The Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management has a proud history of quality research. All aspects of clinical research are encompassed, from the small projects of medical students to our design of, and participation in, major international multicentre trials.
The department was a significant contributor to the POISE study of perioperative beta-blocker use, the ENIGMA trial of nitrous oxide in anaesthesia and a driving force of the B-Aware trial of intraoperative BIS monitoring.
Anaesthesia and Pain Management has a departmental laboratory, staffed by a full-time scientist, where it is able to perform drug assays and also muscle biopsy testing for malignant hyperthermia.
Research staff
| Professor Kate Leslie |
Head of Research |
| Dr Andrew Bjorksten |
Senior Scientist |
| Ms Jackie De Gabriele |
Research Nurse |
| Ms Julia Pearce |
Research Nurse |
There are several foci of research within the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management:
- Professor Kate Leslie is coordinating a large multi-centre trial - ENIGMA II, to explore the influence of nitrous oxide on perioperative cardiac complications.
- Professor Duncan Blake is exploring the interrelation of obstructive sleep apnoea and anaesthesia.
- Dr Malcolm Hogg is researching a number of areas in pain medicine including paracetamol levels in CSF.
- Dr Robyn Gillies and Dr Andrew Bjorkstein continue to investigate the genetics of malignant hyperthermia.
- Associate Professor Colin Royse is the Director of the Anaesthesia and Pain Management Unit at the University of Melbourne. The unit is within the Department of Pharmacology and includes a laboratory concentrating on cardiovascular research and pain studies. Associate Professor Royse is conducting research in the use of trans-oesophageal echocardiography in addition to coordinating courses on the use of TOE for clinicians. He is also supervising PhD/MD students in the research areas of tissue Doppler strain, cardiovascular effects of levosimendan, and the cardioprotective effects of anaesthetic agents.
Research Fellow
The department maintains a research position for a provisional fellow. The position is half time research and half time clinical.
Medical Student Research
Members of the department are supervising six Advanced Medical Science anaesthetic student research projects.
University Affiliation
The department continues its close collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne.
Current research projects
- The ENIGMA II study of nitrous oxide use and cardiac complications
- CSF Paracetamol concentrations
- L-arginine in coronary artery surgery with poor ventricular function
- Desflurane vs propofol and post operative cognitive function in cardiac surgery
- Warming for pre-operative anxiolysis
- Pre-operative oxygen saturation and obstructive sleep apnoea
- PICC line insertion under ultrasound
- Recall of propofol induced pain
- Pregabalin and phantom pain
- Fascia iliaca block with ultrasound
- Audit of chronic pain units and waiting in pain
- Electroacupuncture
- Hydromorphone
- Oxycodone and addiction
- Comparison of the proseal and endotracheal tube
- Sub-tenons block
- Propofol pharmokinetics in prone patients
- Airway management comparing McGrath and Henderson
- Mixing of metaraminol
Funding sources
NHMRC ($2.7 million for the ENIGMA II study)
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