Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine

Faculty of Medicine

Vishal Uppal, MBBS, FRCA

Professor

vishal-uppal

Publications:
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Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine

Email: v.uppal@dal.ca
Research Topics:
  • Regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine
  • Postdural Puncture Headache
  • Brachial plexus blocks
  • Spinal Anesthesia
  • Obstetric anesthesia
  • Patient care outcomes

Administrative Roles

  • Regional Anesthesia Division Chief, Dalhousie University
  • Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Anesthesia
  • Associate Editor, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
  • Board Member, American Society of Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine

Education

  • MSc (Clinical Trials) (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
  • Fellowship, regional anesthesia (University of Western Ontario)
  • FRCA (Anesthesia) (Royal College of Anaesthetists, London, UK)
  • Fellowship, obstetric anesthesia (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
  • Resident, anesthesia (NHS Scotland)
  • MBBS (Karnatak University)

Research Interests

Dr. Uppal’s primary research interests are in improving the safety and efficacy of regional anesthesia techniques in high-risk patient population.

Recognition

ASRA Presidential Scholar Award 2024 - American Society of Regional Anesthesia Pain Medicine

Selected Publications

  • Uppal V, Barry G, Ke JXC, Kwofie MK, Trenholm A, Khan M, Shephard A, Retter S, Shanthanna H. Reducing rebound pain severity after arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia and interscalene block: a two-centre randomized controlled trial of pre-emptive opioid treatment compared with placebo. Can J Anaesth.  DOI: 10.1007/s12630-023-02594-0
  • Uppal V, Russell R, Sondekoppam RV, Ansari J, Baber Z, Chen Y, DelPizzo K, Dirzu DS, Kalagara H, Kissoon NR, Kranz PG, Leffert L, Lim G, Lobo C, Lucas DN, Moka E, Rodriguez SE, Sehmbi H, Vallejo MC, Volk T, Narouze S. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on postdural puncture headache: a consensus report from a multisociety international working group. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104817
  • Uppal V, Shanthanna H, Kalagara H, Sondekoppam RV, Hakim SM, Rosenblatt MA, Pawa A, Macfarlane AJR, Moka E, Narouze S (2021). The practice of regional anesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international survey of members of three regional anesthesia societies. Can J Anaesth. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-021-02150-8
  • Uppal V, Sondekoppam RV, Landau R, El-Boghdadly K, Narouze S, Kalagara HKP (2020). Neuraxial anaesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks during the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review and practice recommendations. Anaesthesia. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.15105
  • Uppal V, Retter S, Kehoe E, McKeen DM (2020). Quadratus Lumborum Block for Postoperative Analgesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. DOI: 10.1007/s12630-020-01793-3

Selected Invited Presentations

  • Strategies for Managing Rebound Pain After Peripheral Nerve Block Wears Off (2025) - Anesthesiology Update 2025 - Harvard Medical School - Boston, USA
  • Evidence-Based Review—Technical Tips: Brachial Plexus Blocks Below the Clavicle (2025) - Anesthesiology Update 2025 - Harvard Medical School - Boston, USA
  • Post-Dural Puncture Headache Revisited (2025) - 50th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting - Orlando, Florida, USA
  • Anesthesia and GLP-1 Agonists: Navigating the Shifting Landscape (2025) - 15th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit - Whistler, BC 
  • Management of pain after caesarean section when neuraxial opioids are not an option (2024) - Three-Day Course in Obstetric Anaesthesia - London, UK
  • Spinal anaesthesia additives for obstetric anaesthesia (2024) - Three-Day Course in Obstetric Anaesthesia - London, UK
  • How to observe and learn: Standards for observational trials (2024) - 41st European Society of Regional Anaesthesia & Pain Therapy (ESRA) Annual Congress - Prague