Vincent W. S. Chan

Dr. Vincent Chan received a Bachelor of Science degree (Biochemistry, Honors) in 1976 and his MD degree in 1980 from McGill University, Montreal. He obtained postgraduate training in Anesthesiology at University of Toronto, Toronto and board certification (FRCPC, Anesthesia) in 1986. Dr. Chan is acknowledged by his colleagues as an international leader in the fields of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. In 2009, he was awarded the Gold Medal Award by the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society, the highest personal award in recognition of his contribution to anesthesia in Canada through excellence in teaching, research, professional practice in the field of ultrasound guided regional anesthesia. He was President of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, he was conferred with the award of the FRCA Fellowship by Election by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (UK). In May 2013, he received the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) Teaching Recognition Award for Achievement in Education. In October 2013, he received the Distinguished Service Award from European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (Spain) for outstanding clinical, educational and scientific achievements in anesthesiology, and for contributions to the increased knowledge and practice of regional anesthesia.

Dr. Chan also serves on the editorial board of the Anesthesia Analgesia Journal and Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine Journal. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, 14 book chapters and over 80 scientific abstracts. Dr. Chan has performed 46 visiting professorships in North America and abroad and given over 120 international and 90 domestic lectures. He has trained more than 40 postgraduate clinical and research fellows during his academic career. Other significant hospital and university contributions he has made are: Chair of Research Committee (1997-2001, University of Toronto), Head of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Program, Department of Anesthesia (2001-present, University Health Network), Chair of the Academic Committee, Department of Anesthesia (2006-present, Toronto Western Hospital).

Research Synopsis

Dr. Chan’s research interest has focused on the development of novel applications of ultrasound for regional anesthesia and for gastric, airway, and lung imaging in the perioperative period.  Other interests involve investigation of adjuncts to prolong local anesthetic duration of action, new catheter and infusion pump technology for postoperative analgesia and functional outcome following major arthroplasty surgery.

Recent Publications

1. Dwyer T, Henry PDG, Cholvisudhi P, Chan VWS, Theodoropoulos JS, Brull R. Neurological Complications Related to Elective Orthopedic Surgery: Part 1: Common Shoulder and Elbow Procedures. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Aug;40:431–42.
2. Dwyer T, Drexler M, Chan VWS, Whelan DB, Brull R. Neurological Complications Related to Elective Orthopedic Surgery: Part 2: Common Hip and Knee Procedures. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Aug;40:443–54.
3. Bendtsen TF, Moriggl B, Chan V, Børglum J. Basic Topography of the Saphenous Nerve in the Femoral Triangle and the Adductor Canal. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Jul;40:391–2.
4. Perlas A, Van de Putte P, Van Houwe P, Chan VWS. I-AIM framework for point-of-care gastric ultrasound. Br J Anaesth. 2015 May;doi: 10.1093/bja/aev113.
5. Chin KJ, Perlas A, Chan V. The ultrasound-assisted paraspinous approach to lumbar neuraxial blockade: a simplified technique in patients with difficult anatomy. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2015 May;59:668–73.
6. Abdallah FW, Morgan PJ, Cil T, Escallon JM, Semple JL, Chan VW. Comparing the DN4 tool with the IASP grading system for chronic neuropathic pain screening after breast tumor resection with and without paravertebral blocks: a prospective 6-month validation study. Pain. 2015 Apr;156:740-9.
7. McVicar J, Niazi AU, Murgatroyd H, Chin KJ, Chan VW. Novice performance of ultrasound-guided needling skills: effect of a needle guidance system. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Mar;40:150–3.
8. Abdallah FW, Johnson J, Chan V, Murgatroyd H, Ghafari M, Ami N, Jin R, Brull R. Intravenous dexamethasone and perineural dexamethasone similarly prolong the duration of analgesia after supraclavicular brachial plexus block: a randomized, triple-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Mar;40:125–32.
9. Alakkad H, Naeeni A, Chan VW, Abbas S, Oh J, Ami N, Ng J, Gardam M, Brull R. Infection related to ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve blockade: a decade of experience at Toronto Western Hospital. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Jan;40:82-4.
10. Abdallah FW, Chan VWS, Gandhi R, Koshkin A, Abbas S, Brull R. The Analgesic Effects of Proximal, Distal, or No Sciatic Nerve Block on Posterior Knee Pain after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial. Anesthesiology. 2014 Dec;121:1302–10. 

Honours and Awards

Name: Distinguished Service Award
Description:

2013 - European Society of Regional Anesthesia- Spain 

Name: Teaching Recognition Award for Achievement in Education
Description:

2013 - International Anesthesia Reserach Society

Name: Honorary Member
Description:

2012 - Romanian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 

Name: FRCA, Fellow by Election
Description:

2011 - The Royal College of Anaesthetists, United Kingdom 

Name: Gold Medal Award
Description:

2009 - Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 

Courses

Course Number:
Course Name: International Symposium of Ultrasound (ISURA) 2016