PREOPERATIVE RISK FACTORS, ADVERSE OUTCOMES AND EFFECTS OF EPIDURAL AND SPINAL ANAESTHESIA [ 2002 - 2002 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Stephan Schug (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Brendan Silbert ,  John Rigg ,  Prof Konrad Jamrozik ,  Prof Paul Myles
View all 6 related researchers

Brief description Anaesthesia and major surgery in patients with coexisting important medical problems present a major challenge to health professionals to avoid and minimise life threatening complications of such surgery. Accurate prediction of which patients are likely to fare badly, and therefore need more intensive peri-operative care and supervision, and knowing definitively whether epidural techniques really do improve the outcome of surgery are issues of central importance in the practice of anaesthesia. Providing clear answers to both questions requires careful analysis of large amounts of data in which systematic and random errors have been minimised. Databases from well-designed and supervised clinical trials represent an invaluable resource in this regard because they have been compiled through the rigorous application of unambiguous definitions and protocols during the process of recording, coding and entering the information. By bringing together the resources and expertise of the MASTER Trial group and the Collaborative Overview of Randomised of Trials of Regional Anaesthesia (CORTRA), both of which are major international projects led from the Australasian region, we have a unique opportunity to provide exceptionally robust answers to some of the most challenging issues in anaesthesia. The combined study of two large international databases will provide a more precise quantitative analysis of the components of preoperative risk and their relationship to life threatening post operative complications, and the possible role of epidural and spinal anaesthesia in minimising risk by reducing the frequency of these complications.

Funding Amount $AUD 66,110.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant