Robert Purdy

Overview: Surgery of the chest in infants and small pediatric patients is challenging. Anesthesia for these patients often involves placement of a very small balloon in one side of the lung or the other to facilitate the surgery. This is called a bronchial blocker. We are conducting a study comparing the 5 published methods of placement of this blocker with a novel method.
We have also designed a new method for caudal anesthesia (similar to epidural anesthesia for women in labor) in pediatric patients that we believe may allow the dose of local anesthetic to be reduced, to reduce side effects and improve the safety of this procedure.
Publications: Evaluation of Personal Protective Equipment Using Low-cost Aerosol Monitors
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Alberto Baldelli and Andrew Poznikoff and Kevin Heieis and Robert Purdy
DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.230323
2024
Cranial conjoined twins: Surgical and anesthetic challenges for a routine procedure: Adenoidectomy and examination of ears
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2010.12.019
2011
Safety and efficacy of continuous morphine infusions following pediatric cranial surgery in a surgical ward setting
Child's Nervous System
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-010-1123-0
2010
Airway complication related to an electromyography tracheal tube
Paediatric Anaesthesia
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02497.x
2008
A Jehovah's Witness child with hemophilia B and factor IX inhibitors undergoing scoliosis surgery
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia
DOI: 10.1007/BF03017597
2008
Early reversal of rapacuronium with neostigmine
Anesthesiology
DOI: 10.1097/00000542-199907000-00011
1999
Association of mortality with age of blood transfused in septic ICU patients
Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia
DOI: 10.1007/BF03012772
1997
Research: A comparison of published methods of bronchial blocker placement to a novel method of placement in an infant intubating mannequin
High volume caudal anesthesia in infants and a new technique of administration

Research Group Members

Alberto Baldelli, Research Fellow
Kevin Heieis, Summer Research Student
Emma Nielsen

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Torin Halvorson and Hebah Hussaina awarded Vanier scholarships for immunotherapy and mental health research

BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) is proud to announce that two of its outstanding research trainees, Torin Halvorson, an MD/PhD student working with the Levings research team, and Hebah Hussaina, a graduate research assistant in the Brussoni Lab, have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

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Studies highlight the impact of the pandemic on children and youth’s mental health

The Pediatric Outcome ImProvement through COordination of Research Networks — which involves BCCHR — has published their latest research findings on mental health hospitalizations of children and youth throughout the pandemic. These findings led the team to a second study where they evaluated the relationship between hospital admissions for eating disorders and public health restrictions.

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Recognizing a brain injury quickly can save lives

Knowing how to recognize brain injury as early as possible and what to do is crucial to reduce potential long-term complications. Mild traumatic brain injuries are more prevalent in children and youth than adults, often as a result of sport- and recreation-related events.

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A decade of work advances care for children with cancer

Researchers at the Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute have been working for over a decade on the BC Pediatric Personalized OncoGenomics (PedsPOG) study, using genomics to identify treatments specific to an individual child’s cancer.

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BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute brings Mini Science Night to Salmon Arm

Scheduled for May 2, in Salmon Arm, BC, Mini Science Night is a public lecture that explores the newest discoveries and innovations in health research. Admission is free and everyone in the community is welcome to attend, including students, teachers, parents, seniors, and local health-care professionals. There are 50 seats available to the public when registration opens on April 2.

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