George Djaiani

Research Synopsis

Complications that are associated with central nervous system (CNS) injury in patients undergoing major surgical procedures reduce the quality of life after otherwise successful surgery. Understanding the mechanisms of CNS injury, and planning the preventive and optimal treatment strategies are the major goals of Dr. Djaiani's program. Under his leadership at the Toronto General Hospital, a multidisciplinary group of investigators has focused on reducing neurological and neurocognitive injury after cardiac and major non-cardiac surgery. As a team, they have been very successful in securing funding, conducting research, presenting at national and international meetings, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, they are leading two other peer review funded multicenter trials in cardiac and non-cardiac surgery investigating different aspects of postoperative delirium and development of dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. The results of these trials will likely have a major impact on our understanding of short and long term neurological and neurocognitive sequelae and may substantially change clinical practice globally.  

Recent Publications

1. Djaiani G, Silverton N, Fedorko L, Carroll J, Styra R, Rao V, Katznelson R. Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol Sedation Reduces Delirium after Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesthesiology. 2015 Nov 16. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Jerath A, Beattie SW, Chandy T, Karski J, Djaiani G, Rao V, Yau T, Wasowicz M; Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials Group. Volatile-based short-term sedation in cardiac surgical patients: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Crit Care Med. 2015 May;43(5):1062-9.
3. Silverton N, Meineri M, Djaiani G. The controversy of right ventricular systolic pressure: is it time to abandon the pulmonary artery catheter? Anaesthesia. 2015 Mar;70(3):241-4.
4. Ashes CM, Yu M, Meineri M, Katznelson R, Carroll J, Rao V, Djaiani G. Diastolic dysfunction, cardiopulmonary bypass, and atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Br J Anaesth. 2014 Nov;113(5):815-21.
5. Ellard L, Katznelson R, Wasowicz M, Ashworth A, Carroll J, Lindsay T, Djaiani G. Type of anesthesia and postoperative delirium after vascular surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2014 Jun;28(3):458-61.
6. Sharma V, Katznelson R, Jerath A, Garrido-Olivares L, Carroll J, Rao V, Wasowicz M, Djaiani G. The association between tranexamic acid and convulsive seizures after cardiac surgery: a multivariate analysis in 11 529 patients. Anaesthesia. 2014 Feb;69(2):124-30.
7. Katznelson R, Scott Beattie W, Djaiani G, Machina M, Lavi R, Rao V, Lavi S. Untreated preoperative depression is not associated with postoperative arrhythmias in CABG patients. Can J Anaesth. 2014 Jan;61(1):12-8.
8. Katznelson R, Djaiani G, Naughton F, Wasowicz M, Ragoonanan T, Duffin J, Fedorko L, Murphy J, Fisher JA. Post-operative hypercapnia-induced hyperpnoea accelerates recovery from sevoflurane anaesthesia: a prospective randomised controlled trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2013 May;57(5):623-30.
9. Stewart A, Katznelson R, Kraeva N, Carroll J, Pickworth T, Rao V, Djaiani G. Genetic variation and cognitive dysfunction one year after cardiac surgery. Anaesthesia. 2013 Jun;68(6):571-5.
10. Ellard L, Djaiani G. Anaesthesia for vascular emergencies. Anaesthesia. 2013 Jan;68 Suppl 1:72-83. doi: 10.1111/anae.12048. Review.

Grants

1. 2015 – 2017 Principal Investigator. A unique brain stress test in identifying patients at risk for postoperative delirium. Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto. 60,000 CAD. [Merit Award, Research Competition]
2. 2013 – 2015 Principal Investigator. Inhalational anesthesia and precipitation of dementia: is there a link? Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto. 80,000 CAD. [Merit Award, Research Competition]
3. 2013 – 2015 Principal Investigator. Inhalational anesthesia and precipitation of dementia: is there a link? MSH-UHN AMO AFP Innovation Fund. Collaborator(s): Katznelson R, Styra R, Mazer D, Cheng D, Chung F. 195,100 CAD. [Grants]
4. 2011 – 2013 Principal Investigator. Reducing Delirium After Trans-Apical Aortic Valve Implantation: A Multifaceted Approach Of Perioperative Care. Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto. 80,000 CAD. [Merit Award, Research Competition]
5. 2011 – 2013 Principal Investigator. Reducing Delirium After Trans-Apical Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Procedures: The Role of Regional Anesthesia. MSH-UHN AMO AFP Innovation Fund. Collaborator(s): Katznelson R, Horlyck E, Feindel C, Meineri M, Styra R. 172,072 CAD. [Grants]
    

Courses

Course Number: Djaiani G, Silverton N, Fedorko L, Carroll J, Styra R, Rao V, Katznelson R. Dexmedetomidine versus Propofol Sedation Reduces Delirium after Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesthesiology. 2015 Nov 16. [Epub ahead of print] 2. Jerath A,
Course Name: The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. (Distinction)
Course Number: Member, Steering Committee
Course Name: Education Course for Riga, Latvia
Course Number: Reviewer and Interviewer, Selection Committee
Course Name: Undergraduate MD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Course Number: Reviewer
Course Name: Cardiac Anesthesia Fellows Selection Committee, Postgraduate MD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Course Number: Teaching Rounds
Course Name: fellows and residents