Dr. Sandra Katsiris (Director)

Obstetrical anesthesia services in London are sited at St. Joseph's Health Care (SJHC) - St. Joseph's Hospital and London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital (VH). SJHC is the tertiary high-risk obstetrical referral centre and VH is a secondary level unit. However, some high-risk patients are managed at VH where adult critical care facilities are available. The future direction of obstetrical anesthesia services is consolidation on one site.

The new Grace Donnolly Women and Children's Health Pavilion located at the Victoria Hospital site will house all obstetrical services in London. It is anticipated this consolidation will take place in the fall of 2010, and will provide comprehensive neonatal and adult care.  

The delivery volume in the city approximates 6500. Obstetricians, family physicians and midwives provide obstetrical care services in London. Both sites offer an obstetrical anesthesia preadmission consultation service as well as 24-hour analgesia and anesthesia services. Labour analgesia provided by anesthesiologists includes intravenous patient controlled analgesia; epidural analgesia by continuous infusion or by patient controlled bolus technique, and combined spinal-epidural analgesia.  

Organized subspecialty obstetrical anesthesia rotations allow our residents to experience the full scope of tertiary obstetrical care. Fellowship positions are also offered for enhanced clinical exposure.