Alain Deschamps, PhD, MD, FRCPC
Editorial Board
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia

Assistant Professor,
Université de Montréal

Staff Anesthesiologist
Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal.

Areas of Research and Clinical Interest:
Dr Deschamps’s main research interests include the analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability as indices of parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow, and the hemodynamic and stress responses to general and regional anesthesia.

The patient’s baseline autonomic activation influences significantly the hemodynamic and stress responses to general or regional anesthesia, and surgery.  Non-invasive measurement of parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow are obtained by analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability before, during and after anesthesia and surgery.  The goal of this research is to recognize patients at risk for autonomic dysfunction during anesthesia and surgery. Understanding the reasons for autonomic vulnerability can then be used to correct baseline autonomic outflow, minimize the hemodynamic and stress responses to anesthesia and surgery, and improve patient recovery.  

Competing Interests: Dr Deschamps has received peer-reviewed funding from les Fonds de la Récherche en Santé du Québec, Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society (2003 Baxter Corporation Research Award in Anesthesia), Association des Anesthétistes du Québec (Bourse annuelle 2003 de la Fondation d’Anesthésiologie et Réanimation du Québec), and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.  He has never received funding from equipment manufacturing or pharmaceutical companies, nor does Dr. Deschamps hold any equity positions in companies with direct links to anesthesia.