Contacts

Prof Britta von Ungern-Sternberg | Professor of Anaesthesia 
Britta.Regli-VonUngern@health.wa.gov.au

Lliana Slevin and Aine Sommerfield | Research Coordinators 
Lliana.Slevin@health.wa.gov.au | Aine.Sommerfield@health.wa.gov.au

The PCH Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management provides the only tertiary paediatric Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine service in Western Australia.

The Anaesthesia and Pain Management research team, led by Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg, leads the most active paediatric anaesthesia research program in Australasia. The team works within a large interdisciplinary network and is actively involved in several international and collaborative networks. Locally, it collaborates with multiple departments within PCH (ENT, Sleep and Respiratory Medicine, Pharmacy), The University of Western Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, Curtin University and other local non-government agencies in Western Australia. The team conducts research on all aspects of clinical care, focusing not only on anaesthesia and pain management but also on perioperative outcomes and improving the care of our young patients. In 2019, the team established an Anaesthetic Research Consumer panel, comprising of 13 caregivers/parents to provide insight and invaluable information on their perioperative experience. They are the link between consumers, the community and researchers. The following studies are a brief overview of the team’s work.

Selection of Current Research Projects

Preoperative Risk Stratification

• OSATS:  Investigating alternative ways to predict OSA and perioperative outcomes in children having tonsillectomies
• NIGHTOWL:  Sleep study carried out on the ward to assess patient’s respiratory efforts during the first postoperative night of a tonsillectomy
• EMPHASIS:  Non-invasive sleep monitoring using oximetry and actigraphy pre and post tonsillectomy to look at the recovery period

Anaesthesia Management

• VISI:  Comparing direct and video laryngoscopy during intubation in small infants
• OPTIMISE:  Randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing direct and video laryngoscopy for neonatal airway management with supplemental oxygen
• Suggamadex: Double blinded, RCT to study the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of Sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular blockades in paediatrics

Lung and Respiratory Physiology during Anaesthesia

• HAMSTER:  Comparing high-flow to low-flow oxygen delivery during microlaryngoscopy procedures in a RCT
• OASIS:  Effect of different lung recruitment strategies in anaesthetized children on oscillatory mechanics
• COMET:  Investigating changes of lung mechanics after gas insufflation during laparoscopic appendectomy procedures
• SAGA:  Improving safety for young children with asthma undergoing general anaesthesia

Anaesthesia and the Brain

• TREX: Comparing two anaesthesia management plans (sevoflurane vs low-dose sevoflurane with dexmedetomidine and remifentanil) and assessing neurodevelopmental outcomes
• EEG:  An international multi-centre study investigating isoelectric EEG events in young children during anaesthesia

Pain Management

• Bee Pain Free:  Multi-centre, double-blinded, RCT to investigate honey use to reduce pain children post-tonsillectomy
• GAP:  Gabapentin use to manage post tonsillectomy pain

Postoperative Outcomes

• CHEWY:  Randomized trial of chewing gum versus ondansetron to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients after breast or laparoscopic surgery
• SNAKES:  Trial of jelly snakes to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in kids after ENT surgery

Formulations of Medications

• Midazolam:  Evaluate the acceptance and pharmacokinetic properties of midazolam chocolate tablets
• Tramadol:  Palatable and chewable chocolate-based tramadol tablets for pain management.