Consultant's research featured on cover of prestigious medical journal | News

One of our consultants has had his landmark study featured on the front cover of the December edition of the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Ben Creagh-Brown, Consultant Intensivist and Professor of Critical Care and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Surrey, was involved in the SQUEEZE study.

The study was conceived after observing patients in ICU following major surgery, recognising a critical gap in understanding how blood pressure support medications (vasopressors) are used worldwide after operations.

It saw an incredible 25,675 patients involved from 228 hospitals across 42 countries. For the first time, the study has mapped how vasopressor infusions - a key marker of dangerously low blood pressure after surgery - are used globally following major non-cardiac operations.

The findings reveal striking variations in practice between countries . They also show that patients requiring vasopressor support face significantly higher rates of complications, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality. These results will facilitate clinical trials to create evidence to guide best practice and improve patient outcomes.

Securing funding from the European Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in 2018, Ben led the international collaboration with Dr Ib Jammer from Bergen, Norway. Professor Lui Forni, consultant intensivist, was on the study steering committee and Dr Patty Alexopoulou, consultant anaesthetist, led recruitment at Royal Surrey.