Karim Ladha

MD, MSc, FRCPC

Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute

Biography

Dr. Karim Ladha is a clinician-scientist and staff anesthesiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto. Dr. Ladha received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then completed his anesthesia training at Massachusetts General Hospital and obtained a fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at Toronto General Hospital. He also holds a Master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. His program of research uses mixed methodologies to obtain a multifaceted view of pain and recovery after surgery including retrospective analyses of administrative databases, prospective observational studies, and multi-center randomized controlled trials. His research has been published in top-tier journals including JAMA, BMJ, British Journal of Anesthesia and Anesthesiology. He has received numerous awards for his work including the International Anesthesia Research Society Mentored Research Award, a new investigator award from the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society and the IMPACT award in anesthesia.

His current research interests include:

–       Exploring the use of anesthetic drugs such as ketamine and nitrous oxide to treat depression

–       Understanding the role of cannabis in mitigating pain

–       Using wearable technology and mobile applications to track recovery after surgery

Please note: Dr. Ladha is not accepting any students at this time.

Recent Publications

  1. Goel, A, Kapoor, B, Wu, M, Iyayi, M, Englesakis, M, Kohan, L et al.. Perioperative Naltrexone Management: A Scoping Review by the Perioperative Pain and Addiction Interdisciplinary Network. Anesthesiology. 2024;141 (2):388-399. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005040. PubMed PMID:38980158 .
  2. Maglaviceanu, A, Peer, M, Rockel, J, Bonin, RP, Fitzcharles, MA, Ladha, KS et al.. The State of Synthetic Cannabinoid Medications for the Treatment of Pain. CNS Drugs. 2024;38 (8):597-612. doi: 10.1007/s40263-024-01098-9. PubMed PMID:38951463 .
  3. Jaffe, RH, Coyte, PC, Chan, BC, Hancock-Howard, RL, Malhotra, AK, Ladha, K et al.. Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury and Income and Employment Status. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7 (6):e2418468. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18468. PubMed PMID:38916890 PubMed Central PMC11200142.
  4. Lee, S, Islam, N, Ladha, KS, van Klei, W, Wijeysundera, DN. Intraoperative Hypotension in Patients Having Major Noncardiac Surgery Under General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review of Blood Pressure Optimization Strategies. Anesth Analg. 2024; :. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007074. PubMed PMID:38870081 .
  5. Khan, JS, Gilron, I, Devereaux, PJ, Clarke, H, Ayach, N, Tomlinson, G et al.. Prevention of persistent pain with lidocaine infusions in breast cancer surgery (PLAN): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2024;25 (1):337. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08151-4. PubMed PMID:38773653 PubMed Central PMC11110187.
  6. Xue, Y, Diep, C, Zhao, HJ, Wijeysundera, DN, Clarke, H, Ladha, KS et al.. Recent Cannabis Use and Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Young-to-Midlife Adults: An Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2014. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2024; :. doi: 10.1089/can.2023.0244. PubMed PMID:38739456 .
  7. Boko, MF, Khanna, AK, D'Aragon, F, Spence, J, Conen, D, Patel, A et al.. Incidence and Risk Factors of Chronic Postoperative Pain in Same-day Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study. Anesthesiology. 2024;141 (2):286-299. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005030. PubMed PMID:38669010 .
  8. Goel, A, Kapoor, B, Chan, H, Ladha, K, Katz, J, Clarke, H et al.. Psychotherapy for Ketamine's Enhanced Durability in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024;13 :e54406. doi: 10.2196/54406. PubMed PMID:38630524 PubMed Central PMC11063874.
  9. Diep, C, Lee, S, Xue, Y, Xiao, M, Pivetta, B, Daza, JF et al.. Preoperative depression and outcomes after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic narrative review. Obes Rev. 2024;25 (7):e13743. doi: 10.1111/obr.13743. PubMed PMID:38572605 .
  10. Di Renna, T, Burke, E, Bhatia, A, Clarke, H, Flamer, D, Flannery, J et al.. Improving access to chronic pain care with central referral and triage: The 6-year findings from a single-entry model. Can J Pain. 2024;8 (1):2297561. doi: 10.1080/24740527.2023.2297561. PubMed PMID:38562673 PubMed Central PMC10984115.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management – University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital