Obstetric Anesthesia

Research and Innovation

Gilbert J. Grant, MD, Director of Obstetric Anesthesia and Vice Chairman for Academic Affairs, is actively involved in laboratory and clinical research. For the past 15 years, his laboratory research has focused on developing a novel ultra-long acting analgesic. Such an agent promises to revolutionize the treatment of pain induced by surgery, trauma and medical conditions by inhibiting transmission of the pain impulse locally while avoiding the side effects that accompany systemic administration of analgesics. He has successfully prepared and evaluated a variety of liposomal formulations of opioids, anti-cholinesterases, and local anesthetics. This work culminated in the issuance of a US patent in 2000 for a proprietary liposomal bupivacaine formulation that produces predictable, dose-dependent, and prolonged analgesia. After pre-clinical evaluation, FDA approval was obtained to perform human trials, in which liposomal bupivacaine was shown to be efficacious. Currently, additional trials are planned to further establish the safety and efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine in a variety of clinical settings. At the same time, laboratory evaluation of this and other liposomal analgesic formulations continues.

Dr. Grant's other clinical research is focused on improving methods of providing pain relief for childbirth that is safe and effective for mother and baby. To this end, many clinical studies are planned for 2004 including: 1) the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors to potentiate postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia, 2) the effect of benzodiazepines administered during the intrapartum period on the neonate, 3) the reliability of the gravity loading versus bolus injection for labor epidurals, 4) the efficacy of clonidine to provide labor analgesia while minimizing maternal motor block, and 5) the efficacy of various modes of patient controlled epidural analgesia for labor compared to continuous infusion techniques.