RIP
Photo ofProf. Gaisford (Gai) G Harrison

MD (UCT), DSc Med (UCT), FFA RCS (Eng), FRCAnaes,
FFA RACS (Hon Causa), FANZCA, MB ChB (UCT), DA RCP (Lon)

Former Professor and Head of the Department. (1981 - 1987, preceding Prof. M James).

Educated at St. Aidan's College, Grahamstown and the University of Cape Town.

Joined the Anaesthesia Dept. in 1951 as Medical Officer and became the second incumbent of the Chair of Anaesthesia at UCT in 1981. (Succeeding Prof. A B Bull 1965 - 1980)

Retired in 1987, but still did regular sessions at the hospital and maintained a keen interest in the Department. He finally retired at the end of 2002, but was still a regular visitor to the department.

Prof. Harrison became the 1st recipient of UCT's DSc in Medicine, the most senior doctorate in the Faculty of Medicine, given in recognition of published work of international standing that has influenced scientific practice.

Claim to Fame

  • Pioneering work in the identification and treatment of Malignant Hyperthermia.Prof. Harrison developed the animal model for research into this potentially fatal anaesthetic complication; and went on to identify Dantrolene as the specific antidote, with the result that mortality from this condition dropped from 70 - 80% to virtually 0.
    His article "Anaesthetic induced malignant hyperthermia and a method of its prediction" was quoted as a "Citation Classic" by Current Contents (Clinical Medicine and Life Sciences) 1987; 30 (10): 18
  • Anaesthesia related mortality studies over a 30 year period, the only long term study in this field.
  • Anaesthesia for Porphyria, a fairly common disease in this country.
  • Anaesthesia for hyperbaric hypothermic radiotherapy.

    • Prof. GG Harrison died suddenly after a short illness on 22-09-2003. RIP

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    08/10/2003