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Current Research and Publications

Dept. of Anaesthesia
University of Cape Town

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Research in Progress

The past year has been one of sustained achievement for the Department, featuring another excellent publication achievement. New researchers are emerging from among the consultant ranks as the previous research achievements attract further interested clinicians into the research arena.
Presentation of new work at major international meetings such as the European Society of Anaesthesiologists meeting in Vienna has increased.
Expertise in studies in coagulation remains a major strength, and collaborative studies in this area have been maintained with Anaesthesia Departments at University College London Hospitals and the University of San Francisco. Substantial equipment grants have been obtained for new equipment for ongoing research in this field.
The incidence of preeclampsia in our obstetric population makes this a fruitful and important area for anaesthesia research, and a major research grant has been obtained to further studies in this field.
The wealth of clinical material in paediatric anaesthesia has led to a blossoming of publications in this area and a major equipment donation has been received for ongoing research in regional anaesthesia in children. Collaborative studies with the University of Vienna into ultrasound-assisted regional blockade have been highly successful. The management of pain in children, particularly those with burns, is a major interest, and publication of a book on the subject is anticipated in the new year.
Fluid therapy studies, particularly in trauma, are a major interest, and substantial funding has been obtained for a major research project into the use of colloid resuscitation in trauma.

Research Fields

Bösenberg, AT
Paediatric anaesthesia, with special interest in paediatric regional anaesthesia

Dyer, RA
Obstetric anaesthesia and thoracic anaesthesia and pharmacology. Cardiac output studies during anaesthesia for preeclampsia

Heijke, SAM
Transoesophageal echocardiography in cardiac anaesthesia

James, MFM (Head of Department)
The role of magnesium in the treatment of malignant arrhythmias and hypertension in association with anaesthesia, particularly phaeochromocytoma; blood transfusion and anesthesia, haemodilution and coagulation; crystalloid v. colloid in trauma resuscitation; saline v balanced salts in resuscitation; calcium and blood coagulation; blood coagulation in patients with chronic renal failure and thromboelastographic study

Reed, A
Intravenous regional anesthesia and the role of morphine; magnesium in the treatment of bupivacaine toxicity; the role of magnesium in anaesthesia for patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm surgery; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in their neurosurgical anaesthesia

Ruttmann, TG
Interaction of various intravenous solutions and anaesthetic techniques on coagulation; the effects of intra-venous fluid management with either colloid or crystalloid on coagulation in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery; remifentanil and midazolam regimen versus a morphine and midazolam regimen in Intensive Care Unit patients; the effects of increasing haemodilution on coagulation. The effects of intravenous fluid management on coagulation in patients undergoing orthopaedic hip surgery using a colloid, either gelatine [heamacell] or hydroxy-ethyl starch [haes-steril] or a crystalloid [plasmalyte B/other]; the effect on coagulation of reducing haematocrit by dilution with homeogenic plasma; the effect of magnesium on haemodilution-induced enhanced coagulation

Llewellyn, R
The effect of low molecular weight heparin on the enhancement of coagulation by haemodilution

Steffanutto, T
The use of magnesium in the management of cerebral ischaemia following interventional radiological procedures

Thomas, J
Epidural infusion of ropivacaine; management of burns in children; pain management in children; anaesthesia for the separation of conjoined twins

Published Works

Articles in peer-reviewed journals:

BÖSENBERG AT :
Anaesthesia and familial dysautonomia with congenital insensitivity to pain.
South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia 11(2) : 66-67, 2005

Anaesthesia and Sirenomelia (Mermaid Syndrome).
South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia 11(3) : 94-96, 2005

Anaesthesia for specialist surgery in infancy.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 6(04) : 109-117, 2005

BÖSENBERG AT, THOMAS JM, CRONJE L, LOPEZ JT, CREAN PM, GUSTAFSSON U, HULEDAL G, LARSSON L :
Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of ropivacaine for continuous epidural infusion in neonates and infants.
Paediatric Anaesthesia 15(9) : 739-749, 2005

BURDETT E, JAMES MFM :
New aspects of perioperative fluid therapy.
Drug Discovery Today 2(1) : 53-58, 2005

DYER RA, JOUBERT IA :
Anaesthesia for the pregnant patient with acquired valvular heart disease.
Update in Anaesthesia 19(1) : 301-308, 2005

EVANS N, SKOWNO J, BENNETT P, JAMES MFM, DYER RA :
A prospective observational study of the use of the Proseal laryngeal mask airway for postpartum tubal ligation.
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia 14(2) : 90-95, 2005

JAMES MFM :
Relative hypovolaemia.
South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia 11(2) : 68-72, 2005

What is wrong with crystalloids?
Transfusion Medicine 7(1) : 20-22, 2005

JAMES MFM, DYER RA :
Anaesthesia for lung volume reduction surgery.
South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia 11(3) : 103-106, 2005

MARHÖFER P, BÖSENBERG AT, SITZWOHL C, WILLSCHKE H, WANZEL O, KAPRAL S :
Pilot study of neuraxial imaging by ultrasound in infants and children.
Paediatric Anaesthesia 15(8) : 671-6, 2005

van SHOOR AN, BOON JM, BÖSENBERG AT, ABRAHAMS PJ, MEIRING JH :
Anatomical considerations of the pediatric ilioinguinal / iliohypogastric nerve block.
Paediatric Anaesthesia 15(April) : 371-377, 2005.

van ZIJL D, GORDON PC, JAMES MFM :
The comparative effects of remifentanil or magnesium sulphate versus placebo on attenuating the hemodynamic responses following electroconvulsive therapy.
Anesthesia and Analgesia 101 : 1651-1655, 2005.

WILLSCHKE H,MARHÖFER P, BÖSENBERG AT, JOHNSTON S, WANZEL O, COX SG, SITZWOHL C, KAPRAL S :
Ultrasonagraphy for ilioinguinal / iliohypogastric nerve blocks in children.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 95(2) : 226-230, 2005

Chapters in Books:

BÖSENBERG AT :
Ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia in children.
In: Highlights in regional anaesthesia and pain therapy - Gligorijevic ERN, ed.
Cyprint Ltd., Cyprus: XIV, 75-81, 2005

DENT D, JAMES MFM :
Perioperative care of patients with endocrine neoplasms.
In: Acute care of the cancer patient - Shaw AD, Burton AW, Riedel BJCJ, Feeley TW, eds.
Taylor and Francis Group, Florida, USA: 407-431, 2005

Published Conference Abstracts:

DYER RA, IBACH F, FAWCUS S :
Qualitative study of the knowledge and expectations of the pain of labour in urban Xhosa primigravidae.
South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia 11(1) : 23, 2005JEEBHAY M, RUSSFORD E, LOPATA AL, ROBINS TG, BATEMAN ED, BAATJIES R, MILLER M :
Occupational allergy and asthma among fish processing workers in South Africa.
Epidemiology 16(5) : S88, 2005

LLEWELLYN RL, RUTTMANN TG, FALANGA FM, JAMES MFM :
Fluids and coagulation in lower limb arthroplasty.
European Journal of Anesthesiology 22(S34) : A-284, 2005

WILLSCHKE H, BÖSENBERG AT, KAPRAL S, MARHÖFER P :
Ultrasound guided epidural anaesthesia - the implementation of a new technique.
Paediatric Anaesthesia 15(3) : 802, 2005

WILLSCHKE H, JOHNSTON S, BÖSENBERG AT, KAPRAL S, MARHÖFER P :
Ultrasound guidance reduces the amount of local anaesthetic for inguinal blocks in children.
European Journal of Anesthesiology 22(S34) : A-561, 2005

WILLSCHKE H, KAPRAL S, BÖSENBERG AT, WANZEL O, MARHÖFER P :
The impossibility of prediction of the depth of neonatal epidural space - proven with ultrasound.
Paediatric Anaesthesia 15(3) : 799, 2005

This is a copy of the Annual Research Report for 2005 to the University and was compiled by Prof. M James (01/03/2006) and maintained by R Nieuwveld.

A copy of the 2006 Report will be published on the web as soon as it is available.

Previous reports are available by clicking on the relevant year :-

1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2003
2004
2005
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Disclaimer
Information is given in good faith and reasonable steps to ensure accuracy have been taken at the time of editing.
No liability will be accepted for any misinformation or any consequences therefrom.
Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Cape Town, the hospitals in the Groote Schuur Hospitals Region; or their office bearers.

07/05/2007