Congratulations to our recent Department of Anesthesia award winners!

CSCI/CIHR Resident Research Award for 2019

Congratulations to Dr. Tara Sander for been awarded the Clinical Investigation and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CSCI/CIHR) Resident Research Award for the year 2019! As a part of the CSCI criteria, a public presentation of the award will be made on September 6, 2019 at the PGME celebration night event.

Excellence Award

Hedlin P, Gamble J, Wassan EK, Ambros B. Failed Subarachnoid Block: Who’s to Blame? Provider, Product or Patient? Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Excellence Award (DARE Awards). $12,500 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

Engagement Awards

Chaya M, Meister A, Yang C, Campbell K. Efficacy of peripheral nerve blocks for knee and shoulder arthroplasties in Saskatoon: A prospective quality improvement study. Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Engagement Award (DARE Awards). $5,000 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

Clunie M, O’Brien J, Olszynski P. Competence of Anesthesiology Residents Following a Longitudinal Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum. Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Engagement Award (DARE Awards). $5,000 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

Lim B, Gamble J, Deck M, Gu J, Ginther N, Gil D. A randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of opioid-free anesthesia on return of gastrointestinal function in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Engagement Award (DARE Awards). $5,000 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

Raazi M, Wright KW, O’Brien J, Sharpe D, Wilson S. Randomized Controlled Trial of the Internet-delivered Preoperative Preparation Program (I-PPP): An Examination of the Effect of the Timing of Delivery. Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Engagement Award (DARE Awards). $5,000 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

Urmson K, Sander T, O’Brien J, Langford L. Determining residual gastric volume in healthy children using ultrasound. Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Engagement Award (DARE Awards). $5,000 for 2019-01-01 to 2020-12-31.

View the most up-to-date faculty list.

Faculty Profiles

There are three main sites that are covered by the Department. They are the Royal University Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital and Saskatoon City Hospital. All are situated centrally in the beautiful city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Anesthesiologists also cover peripheral sites within the Saskatoon Health Region such as the Saskatoon Surgicentre and Humboldt District Hospital in Humboldt, Saskatchewan.

Medical students, Medical and Surgical Residents, as well as many other allied health professionals are exposed to the field of anesthesia during clinical rotations at the sites staffed by anesthesiologists from the U of S Department of Anesthesia. Learners of all levels also have increasing exposure and learning opportunities with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region Department of Anesthesia.

The U of S Department of Anesthesia is an enthusiastic department focused on providing the highest level of care possible to the people of Saskatchewan. Thank you for visiting our site and please feel free to send us comments about how we can improve your online experience.

Undergraduate Program

Introduction

Welcome to the Anesthesia clerkship rotation!

This is a two-week rotation soon to be incorporated within the new six-week Anesthesia/Emergency Medicine block. During the rotation students will be exposed to broad aspects of anesthetic care including perioperative patient assessment, intraoperative patient management, and postoperative care. Students will be exposed to a range of procedures and skills within our practice as well as aspects of subspecialty care including obstetric and pediatric anesthesia.

The overall objective of this rotation is to provide students with the skills and knowledge that is both practical and generalizable to the primary care physician. Our department boasts a dynamic and creative learning environment with which to fulfill a positive educational experience. Do not hesitate to contact the departmental staff should you encounter any difficulties during your rotation. We wish you every bit of success during your time with us.

Dr. Paul Korchinski
Director of Undergraduate Anesthesia Education

Rotation Instructions

Students on their core clinical rotation will be expected to complete all rotational learning objectives prior to the end of the rotation. A copy of the rotational objectives can be found below. During the rotation, students will be provided with a copy of the prescribed textbook for this rotation – Ottawa Anesthesia Primer by Patrick Sullivan. Students must return their copy of the textbook at the end of their rotation.

Daily evaluation forms must be collected at the end of each day and signed by your supervising anesthetist. Students must hand in their evaluation forms at the end of the rotation as they will be used to complete a final evaluation. We will not be able to complete a final evaluation if daily evaluation forms are not submitted for any reason.

As well, experience (6.2) logs must be completed and returned at the end of the rotation before a final evaluation can be released to the College of Medicine.

Due to the short duration of our rotation, vacation requests will NOT be approved. Educational leave to attend a conference or learning session may be allowed up to one (1) day with advance approval from the College of Medicine and the rotation director.

Final evaluations will be based on your daily evaluations as well as a multiple-choice exam to be written at the end of the rotation. Students will meet with the educational site director on the last day of the rotation for a final interview and to provide rotational feedback.

Saskatoon
Students will be assigned to one hospital teaching site (Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon City Hospital, or St. Paul’s Hospital) for the duration of the rotation. In addition, students will be assigned to one day of obstetrical anesthesia at RUH. Students will receive their assignments by email at least one week prior to commencement of the rotation. Please contact Raven St. Yves in the department of anesthesia should you not receive your site assignment prior to your rotation. It is important that students present to the OR no later than 07:15. Room assignments are done the day prior by our resident scheduler. Ask one of the OR staff or one of the anesthesia residents where to find the schedule.

Regina
Students will spend time at Regina General Hospital, Pasqua Hospital, the pre-admission clinic at Regina Crossing, and the Labour and Birthing Unit at RGH. Students will receive their schedule by email at least one week prior to commencement of the rotation. Please contact Kim Gilbert in the College of Medicine should you not receive your schedule prior to your rotation. Students are expected to present themselves to the Day Surgery unit daily at 07:00 to obtain experience in starting IVs. Students will then present to the OR at 07:30 for the start of the slate.

Prince Albert
Students should arrange to meet Dr. Thangavelu or Dr. Sriram promptly at 07:30 on the first day of your rotation at the front desk in the operating room. They will allocate you for the next two weeks to the various operating rooms and anesthesiologists.

Electives

Thank you for your interest in an elective in Anesthesia at the University of Saskatchewan! We welcome medical students both in Saskatchewan as well as from other medical schools in Canada and internationally.

The Departments of Anesthesia in Saskatoon and Regina are each housed at tertiary care hospitals offering a wide compliment of general and subspecialty surgical services common to other academic teaching hospitals across Canada. Our departments each provide a variety of subspecialty anesthetic services, including pediatric, obstetric, vascular, neuro, thoracic, acute pain, chronic pain, and trauma.

Our rotation is a hands-on exposure and acquisition of the basic knowledge and technical skills requisite within our field. Elective students can expect to gain further experience in the provision of anesthetic care including:

Preoperative patient assessment including those patients with a variety of premorbid conditions
Intraoperative anesthetic management under general, regional, or neuraxial anesthesia
Postoperative care and acute pain management

Elective students can expect the majority of their experience to occur within the operating room environment. Students will be assigned each day to a particular surgical slate and will function under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. On certain days, students may alternatively be assigned to our acute pain and procedure service alongside our residents. Generally, attempts are made to ensure continuity of supervision with the same anesthesiologist on multiple days during the elective, however, students should expect to work with a variety of supervisors throughout.

We encourage all students interested in the varied, challenging, and dynamic clinical practice anesthesia has to offer to pursue an elective with us. To all students on elective we wish you a valuable and rewarding learning experience.

University of Saskatchewan Applicants
Please complete the elective request form below.

Saskatoon: Submit forms to Ms. Georgie Blackwell

Regina: Submit forms to Ms. Kim Gilbert

Canadian and International Applicants
Please visit the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine’s Electives website for instructions.

** Please be aware that during the summer months (July 1 – August 31) reduced operating room schedules and increased learner volumes can make elective student placement challenging. We suggest students applying to Saskatoon sites especially during this period contact Ms. Raven St. Yves to confirm elective dates availability prior to submitting an elective request.

Elective Request Form

UGME Contacts

Dr. Paul Korchinski
Director of Undergraduate Anesthesia Education

Dr. Ryan Pikaluk
Education Director, Regina Site

Dr. Sujay Ishwarlall
Education Director, Prince Albert Site

Ms. Erin Cook
Administrative Assistant, Saskatoon Site

Ms. Kim Gilbert
Administrative Assistant, Regina Site

Ms. Nicole Toutant
Administrative Assistant, Prince Albert Site

Postgraduate Program

Residency

The University of Saskatchewan offers a five year residency training program, which is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The department currently has 31 residents. Residents rotate through the three hospitals in Saskatoon, as well as having access to three more hospitals in Regina and Prince Albert. These sites are : The Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon City Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital, Regina General Hospital, Pasqua Hospital and Victoria Hospital.

Throughout the year, residents, students and faculty prepare academic teaching rounds and presentations. It is important to know the copyright policies of our university when preparing for these presentations.

Dr. Ian Jorgensen
Residency Program Director
Department of Anesthesiology
University of Saskatchewan

There are six positions available in the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS). Each year there is also 0 - 2 additional residents that come into our program through re-entry or an alternative pathway. The main locations for the 5 year training program are Saskatoon and Regina. Residents also have the opportunity to do community and out-of-province electives. CaRMS interviews are held in January and applicants have the opportunity to meet the residents and faculty during the interview process and an evening event.

For more information, please visit the CaRMS website.

Health Sciences Graduate Program

Grand Rounds

About our Grand Rounds

The Department of Anesthesiology holds weekly grand rounds at 07:15 - 08:00 AM on Fridays at Health Science E1130. These are Royal College CME accredited events. The speakers range from residents to staff anesthesiologist. We also often have multi-disciplinary sessions. If you have any questions please email: Henrybi@gmail.com

Dr. Henry Bi
Director of Continuing Education and Professional Development
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management
University of Saskatchewan

Research

Overview

Welcome to the Division of Research page of the University of Saskatchewan Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management.

One of the department’s primary missions is to generate new knowledge that will advance the understanding and practice of Anesthesiology. Our strategic priority is to continuously pursue research excellence by facilitating inter/multi/trans-disciplinary collaborations that will ensure our research is recognized and celebrated locally, regionally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.

With the efforts of our dedicated faculty, students, residents and staff, the Research Division conducts a broad range of clinical, preclinical and basic science research. Our Research Division team is led by executive director Dr. Jonathan Gamble. We are also fortunate to have the efforts of clinician scientist Dr. Peter Hedlin, research coordinator Dr. Jennifer O’Brien, research coordinator Dr. Erin Barbour-Tuck, research assistant Dr. Una Goncin and biostatistician Mr. Jagmeet Singh Bajwa.

We have recently launched a provincial research and innovation funding program - Provincial Department of Anesthesiology Research Excellence and Engagement Awards (DARE-Awards). For program details feel free to contact Drs. Gamble or O’Brien.

The Department of Anesthesiology does not accept medical students as volunteer researchers. Students who are interested in research are invited to apply to the College of Medicine Dean's Summer Student projects located here.

If you would like to contact us we may be reached as follows:

Dr. Jonathan Gamble Royal University Hospital G525-103 Hospital Drive Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Phone: (306) 655-1183 Email: jonathan.gamble@saskhealthauthority.ca	Dr. Jennifer O’Brien Royal University Hospital G525-103 Hospital Drive Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Phone: (306) 655-1183 Email: jennifer.O’Brien@saskhealthauthority.ca
Dr. Erin Barbour-Tuck Royal University Hospital G525-103 Hospital Drive Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Phone: (306) 655-1183 Email: e.barbourtuck@usask.ca

Publications

This page contains some recent publications that members of our department have published. Public access has been made available although the original source of publication is cited and made available through the link.

Recent Publications

Caruso TJ, Rama A, Knight LJ, Gonzales R, Munshey F, Darling C, Chen M, Sharek PJ. Operating room codes redefined: a highly reliable model integrating the core hospital code team. Pediatric Quality & Safety. 2019;4(3):e172. https://journals.lww.com/pqs/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2019&issue=05000&article=00007&type=Fulltext
Rosen D, Gamble J, Matava C. Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society Statement on Clear Fluid Fasting for Elective Pediatric Anesthesia. Can J Anesth. 2019;66(8):991-2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12630-019-01382-z
Loessin V, EIZahabi AJ, Brownbridge B, Bajwa JS. Continuous fascia iliaca block for acute hip fractures: A randomized controlled pilot study. Can J Anesth. First Online: 25 June 2019. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12630-019-01428-2
Wright K, Kim J, Chiesa N, Raazi M. A Systematic Review of Technology-based Preoperative Preparation Interventions for Child and Parent Anxiety. Can J Anesth. 2019;66(8):966-86. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12630-019-01387-8.
Chakravarti A, Raazi M, O’Brien J, Balaton B. Anesthesiology Resident Wellness Program at the University of Saskatchewan: concept and development. Can J Anesth. 2017 Feb; 64(2): 185-198.
Chakravarti A, Raazi M, O’Brien J, Balaton B. Anesthesiology Resident Wellness Program at the University of Saskatchewan: curriculum content and delivery. Can J Anesth. 2017 Feb; 64(2):199-210.
Li ECK, Balbuena LD, Gamble JJ. ENIGMA II revisited: patients still vomiting. Anesthesiology. 2017. Accepted, in press.
Gamble, JJ, Chan IA. Reply to Ideno, Satoshi; Seki, Hiroyuki; Morisaki, Hiroshi, regarding their comment ‘Consider an additional pressure relief port before we abandon the use of the wall oxygen through a bronchoscope’. Paediatr Anaesth. 2016;26(7):769-71.
Hoda Z, O’Brien J, Gamble J. Intractable seizures in a 17 month old after application of over the counter local anesthetic cream. CMAJ. 2016, Apr 25.
O’Brien, JM. Establishing a scholarly culture requires a conceptual framework for leveraging change. Perspect Med Educ. 2016;5:191-2.
Ho MJ, Li ECK, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Published Online: 3 MAR 2016.
McKay WP. Comment on: Malek MH et al. Muscle Nerve. 44: 432 - 438; 2011. Muscle Nerve. Accepted manuscript online: 27 JAN 2016.
McKay WP, Wang A, Yip K, Raazi M. Tracheal ultrasound to assess endotracheal tube depth: an exploratory study. Can J Anesth. 2015 Jan. DOI 10.1007/s12630-015-0313-3.
Slovack M, Taylor B, Bryce R, Ong D. Does intravenous lidocaine during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery reduce postoperative analgesia? A randomized controlled study. Can J Anesth. 2015 Feb. DOI 10.1007/s12630-15-033-z.
Murto K, Breton S, Ramakko KA, Aglipay M, Perverseff R, Bryson GL. Safety-engineered intravenous catheter utilization among Canadian pediatric anesthesiologists. Can J Anesth. 2015 Feb. DOI 10.1007/s12630-015-0351-x.
McNair E, Marcoux J-A, Bally C, Gamble J, Thomson D. Bivalirudin as an adjunctive anticoagulant to heparin in the treatment of heparin resistance during cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted cardiac surgery. Perfusion. 2015 May 1. DOI 10.1177/0267659115583525.
Chan IA, Gamble JJ. Tension pneumothorax during flexible bronchoscopy in a non-intubated infant. Paediatr Anaesth. Article first published online: 6 JAN 2016.
Hoda Z, O’Brien J, Gamble J. Intractable seizures in a 17 month old after application of over the counter local anesthetic ointment. CMAJ. Accepted, in press.
Fedoruk K, Chong K, Sermer M, Carvalho JCA. Anesthetic management of a parturient with hypermobility phenotype but possible vascular genotype Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Can J Anesth. 2015 Dec; 62(12):1308-12. First online: 14 September 2015.
Munshey F, Gamble J, McKay W. Modified pediatric Magill Forceps effect on nasal intubation time. Paediatr Anaesth. Article first published online: 4 Jan 2016.
Chan I, Maslany J, Gorman K, O’Brien J, McKay W. : Dexmedetomidine during total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia decreases opioid use. A randomized controlled trial. Can J Anesth. Accepted, in press.
Lucy MJ, Gamble JJ, Daku BL, Bryce RD, Rana M. Positive-pressure ventilation during transport: a randomized crossover study of self-inflating and flow-inflating resuscitators in a simulation model. Paediatr Anaesth 2014. Epub 23 Jun 2014.
Gamble JJ, McKay WP, Wang AF, Yip KA, O'Brien JM, Plewes C. Three-finger tracheal palpation to guide endotracheal tube depth in children. Paediatr Anaesth 2014. Epub 23 Jun 2014. http://library.usask.ca/scripts/remote?URL=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pan.12452
Gamble JJ, McKay WP, Wang AF, Yip KA, O'brien JM, Plewes C. Three-finger tracheal palpation to guide endotracheal tube depth in children. Paediatr Anaesth 2014. Epub 23 Jun 2014.
Gamble J, Ambros B, Séguin P, Bensamour P, Simko E. Stimulating thoracic epidural placement via a lumbar approach causes significant spinal cord damage in a porcine model. Can J Anesth 2014; doi: 10.1007/s12630-014-0117-x http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12630-014-0117-x (Accompanying Editorial - Tsui B )
Cowie N, Bowen A, Kuling S, Premkumar K, Burbridge M, Martel J. Health quality improvement using instructional communication and teamwork videos: an outcome study. Creative Education 2014;5:36-45.doi: 10.4236/ce.2014.51008

Research Summaries

Patient Information

Many of our patients have questions about our role as anesthesiologists as well as what types of anesthesia we can provide. This section provides links to the Canadian Anesthesiologist's Society Website.

What are Anesthesiologists?

What are the different types of Anesthesia?

Anesthesia frequently asked questions