"Postanaesthetic follow-up by questionnaire - a research tool."
Marshall M, Fahy A, and Watson B G: British Journal of Anaesthesia (1969) 41, 439.
Reporting a very high response rate to a postal questionnaire after outpatient GA, suggesting that postal questionnaire follow up may be a useful research tool for these patients.
"Blood glucose levels in children during surgery"
Watson B G: British Journal of Anaesthesia (1972) 44, 712.
A description of the changes which occur in children during surgery, drawing attention to the frequent occurrence of hypoglycaemia in starved children.
"Prevention of venous blood gas embolism with blood microfilters"
Watson B G, Pearson D T, Williams W: Anaesthesia (1977) 32, 174-176
Drawing attention to the possibility of gas bubbles being transfused when the current type of blood warmer was used, with a laboratory study showing how this could be prevented by the use of an appropriately-placed blood microfilters.
"An ultrasonic analysis of the comparative efficiencies of various commercially available cardiotomy reservoirs"
Pearson D T, Watson B G, Waterhouse P S: Thorax (1978) 33, 352.
Showing the varying capabilities of different makes to remove microbubbles from blood during cardiopulmonary bypass. A laboratory study with clinical implications, which with subsequent work influenced manufacturers to change their design and to produce a more effective and safe product.
"Unilateral Cold Neck: A new sign of misplacement of the aortic cannula during cardiopulmonary bypass."
Watson B G: Anaesthesia (1983) 38, 659-661.
A report of a case in which the aortic cannula became displaced and led to the recognition of two useful new signs for the detection of this serious complication, from which this patient was the first survivor in the literature.
"Circadian changes in anticoagulant effect of heparin infused at a constant rate."
Watson B G: British Medical Journal (1985) 290, 793 (letter).
Drawing attention to the fact that the authors of a previous paper had neglected to take into account the fact that heparin is partly excreted in the urine. Less heparin would be excreted in this way during the night, producing the effect they had observed but not explained.
"Ethanol Vapor Entrapment under Drapes"
Morritt G N, Odom N J, Watson B G, Stone T N: Annals of Thoracic Surgery (1985) 39, 196-197 (letter).
Drawing attention to the dangers of ethanol-based skin preparation fluids used with impermeable drapes: flammable concentrations may persist for long periods. A report of a case and a laboratory investigation using a volunteer and a mass spectrometer to measure vapour concentrations.
"Diabetes Mellitus and Open Heart Surgery"
Watson B G, Elliott M J, Pay D A, Williamson W: Anaesthesia (1986) 41, 250-257.
A paper of potentially widespread importance to anaesthetists who deal with diabetic patients at the time of major surgery. It describes two methods of controlling the blood glucose at the time of major surgery using an infusion of insulin. A manual-, or a computer-controlled method alters the insulin infusion rate according to blood glucose estimations done by the anaesthetist, or by the nurse in the ITU. Both methods are easy to use and the results show very good control of the blood glucose levels at what for the diabetic patient is a very metabolically stressful time.
"Perioperative blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus"
Watson B G: Diabetic Medicine (1990)
A description of the use of an improved method of controlling diabetes during and following open heart surgery using a pocket computer.
"The Devices Cerebral Function Monitor in Profound Hypothermia"
Address by invitation to British Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists 1976
A description of the use of a device to measure and record brain electrical activity during operations on small children for the correction of complex cardiac defects in which profound hypothermia (to 15˚C) is induced with cardiopulmonary bypass and the circulation is arrested for up to an hour in order to make the surgery possible.
"Anticoagulant Drugs During Extracorporeal Circulation"
EEC Commission Concerted Action on Extracorporeal Oxygenation:
Workshop on aspects of anticoagulant therapy during extracorporeal circulation.
Address by invitation, 1979
A report of experience with the use of heparin & protamine during cardiopulmonary bypass at a meeting discussing anticoagulation and the proposed use of a new drug, prostacyclin, during bypass as a platelet inhibitor.
Summary in Bull. Europ. Physiopath. Resp. (1980) 16,153.
"Where's the Aortic Cannula?"
Address to the Society of Perfusionists of Great Britain & Ireland, 1984
A report of a case, subsequently published, in which accidental malposition of the aortic cannula during bypass was detected and two useful new signs of malposition recognised. First reported case of survival after this complication.
"Blood Glucose Control by Insulin Infusion"
Annual meeting of the Association of Anaesthetists 1984, Poster presentation
The first description of a new method for the anaesthetist to control the blood glucose concentration of diabetic patients during and after surgery.
"Diabetes Mellitus and Open Heart Surgery"
Address to Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists, 1985
A more detailed description of the above, with special reference to the difficulties of controlling diabetics at the time of open-heart surgery.
"Diabetes Mellitus and Open Heart Surgery"
Address to a joint meeting of:
European Association Of Artificial Organs and International Diabetes Federation, Athens 1985.
A detailed description of the newly developed method, computer- or manually-controlled, of delivering insulin to diabetic patients, with particular reference to the use of the method to control diabetic patients during open-heart surgery, a procedure which is particularly liable to produce severe metabolic disturbance in the diabetic patient. The method is available in a simple, easy to use form with wider applicability wherever diabetic patients are subjected to surgery.
Cardiothoracic Representative, Executive Subcommittee of Division of Anaesthesia, 1975-83
Cardiothoracic Representative, Control of Infection Subcommittee of HMC, 1978-85
Consultant in Administrative Charge, Department of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia, 1981-83
Secretary, Division of Cardiothoracic Medicine & Surgery, 1981-86
Secretary, North of England Society of Anaesthetists, 1986-89
Vice-Chairman, Division of Cardiothoracic Medicine & Surgery, 1986-88
Chairman, Division of Cardiothoracic Medicine & Surgery, 1988-90
Cardiothoracic Representative, Medical Physics Steering Group, 1993-2003
President, North of England Society of Anaesthetists, 1995-96
Society for Computing and Technology in Anaesthesia
Association of Anaesthetists
British Medical Association
North of England Society of Anaesthetists
I am now happily retired.