Anaesthesiology

Restoring and maintaining vital organ homeostasis Department

Restoring and maintaining vital organ homeostasis

Patients needing emergency and perioperative care often present disruption of physiological homeostasis that can be amplified by anaesthetic and surgical interventions. Our researchers aim to better understand the underlying pathophysiology and pharmacology of these disturbances.

In our research, we use a multi-system translational approach, since ageing, disease, drugs, trauma, and surgery can interact and mutually amplify impairments in vital organs.

Our researchers focus on:

the pathophysiological understanding of changes occurring during emergency unit and perioperative care, including the neurophysiological changes predisposing to chronic pain development;
quantifying and predicting these alterations using cerebral monitoring, cardiovascular measures, imaging technologies, and biomarkers;
understanding the pathophysiological consequences of drug treatments and other interventions used during and after emergency and peri-operative care;
identifying and validating new pharmacological and interventional therapeutic strategies;
finding and/or optimising therapeutic targets using advanced pharmacological modelling;
optimising clinical teaching and learning practices.

Relevance

Restoring physiological homeostasis for a healthier life

Patients suffering from problems requiring procedures under anaesthetic care and/or chronic pain therapy can suffer from long-term side effects which can negatively influence healthy ageing. With our research, we want to optimally maintain or restore physiological homeostasis in these patients, thus improving their quality of life.

Our research areas are:

peri-operative pharmacology, Prof.dr. Michel Struys;
neuroanaesthesia and perioperative neuroscience, Prof.dr. Anthony Absalom;
haemodynamic monitoring, microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, Prof.dr. Thomas Scheeren;
chronic and oncologic pain, Prof.dr. Andre Wolff;
medical Education, Prof.dr. Götz Wietasch.

The application demonstrates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of midazolam after intranasal administration as described by Barends et al.
It allows the user to simulate a single dose with or without top-up dose of intranasal midazolam and to evaluate the expected effects on the midazolam plasma concentrations, Bispectral Index (BIS), modified observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (MOAA/S), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and oxygen saturation (SpO2).

see also: Groningen PMX Shiny repository apps: Midazolam intranasal PKPD in healthy elderly volunteers