The University of Western Australia

Professor Stephan Schug

Chair of Anaesthesiology
Division of Anaesthesiology

Contact details

Address

Division of Anaesthesiology
The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

9224 0201

Fax

9224 0279

Email

stephan.schug@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

MD Cologne, FANZCA, FFPMANZCA

Biography

Stephan Schug is currently Professor and Chair of Anaesthesiology in the School of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of Western Australia and Director of Pain Medicine at the Royal Perth Hospital, Australia. He maintains also a position as Honorary Professor of Anaesthesiology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

He studied medicine at the University of Cologne, Germany, where he also obtained his MD by thesis in clinical pharmacology and subsequently specialised in anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.

Very early in his career, he focused his clinical and research interests on the treatment of patients in pain. Initially he was involved in the setting up and running of the first German cancer pain treatment centre with his friend and colleague Dr. Detlev Zech.

After accepting a position in New Zealand in 1989, he initiated one of the first Acute Pain Services in Autralasia at Auckland Hospital. The planned stay of one year became 12 years after he accepted the successorship of Associate Professor Robert Boas a the Head of Secton of Anaesthetics at the University of Auckland. Over the next years he developed academic anaesthesia a the University of Auckland and was awarded a Personal Chair in Anesthesiology in 2000.

In 2001 he moved to Perth, Westen Australia, where he succeeded the Inaugural Chair of Anaesthesia at the University of Western Australia, Professor Teik Oh, in 2006. As the Director of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine of Royal Perh Hospital his clinical responsibilities include the running of a Comprehensive Inpatient Pain Service at 2 sites of this hospital as well as a multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Centre, which is accredited for training by the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Autralian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Key research

Professor Schug’s principal research interests include the management of acute and chronic pain, cancer pain, regional anaesthesia, the pharmacology of analgesics and anaesthetics and quality control in health care.

Publications

Schug SA, Camu F, Joshi G, Pan S, Cheung R
Cardiovascular safety of the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors parecoxib and valdecoxib in the postoperative setting: An analysis of integrated data
Anesthesia Analgesia 2009; 108(1): 299-307



Publications 2008

Wang L, Miles AN, Schug SA
Tramadol and severe hypertension during anaesthesia
Journal of Neurosurgical Anaesthesia 2008; 20(1): 69

Auret K, Toye C, Goucke R, Kristjanson LJ, Bruce D, Schug SA,
Development and testing of a modified version of the Brief Pain Inventory for use in residential aged care facilities
JAGS 2008; 56: 301-306

Schug SA, Raajkumar A
Local Anesthetics
In: Side Effects of Drugs Annual 30
Edited by JK Aronson
Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2008, pp. 152-163

Schug SA
The surgeon and the anaesthetist – providing patient care as a perioperative team
ANZ Journal of Surgery 2008; 7: 521-22

Fischer B, Simanski C, Sharp C, Bonnet F, Camu F, Neugebauer EAM, Rawal N, Joshi G, Schug SA, Kehlet H
A procedure-specific systematic review and consensus recommendations for postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty
Anaesthesia 2008; 63(10): 1005-23

Joshi G, Bonnet F, Shah R, Wilkinson RC, Camu F, Fischer B, Neugebauer EAM, Rawal N, Schug SA, Simanski C, Kehlet H
A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Evaluating Regional Techniques for Postthoracotomy Analgesia
Anesthesia Analgesia 2008; 107 (3): 1026-1040

Schug SA, Auret KA
Clinical pharmacology: Principles of analgesic drug management
In: Textbook of Clinical Pain Management 2nd Edition
Cancer Pain
edited by Sykes N, Bennett MI, Yuan CS
Hodder Arnold, London, 2008 (pp. 103-123)

Grape S, Schug SA
Epidural and spinal analgesia
In: Textbook of Clinical Pain Management 2nd Edition
Acute Pain
edited by Macintyre PE, Walker SM, Rowbotham DJ
Hodder Arnold, London, 2008 (pp. 255-271)


Tziavrangos E, Schug SA
Clinical pharmacology: other adjuvants
In: Textbook of Clinical Pain Management 2nd Edition
Acute Pain
edited by Macintyre PE, Walker SM, Rowbotham DJ
Hodder Arnold, London, 2008 (pp. 96-113)

Schug SA
The role of gabapentinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain
CONSULT Spring 2008: 28-29

Spies CD, Rehberg B, Schug SA, Jaehnichen G, Harper S
Pain Therapy
In: Standard Operating Procedures of the Charite
Springer, Heidelberg 2008

McCloy R, Randall D, Schug SA, Kehlet H, Simanski C, Bonnet F, Camu F, Fischer B, Joshi G, Rawal N, Neugebauer EAM
Is small necessarily better? A systematic review comparing the effects of minilaparoscopic and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy on patient outcomes
Surgical Endoscopy 2008; 22(12):2541-53.

Auret KA, Schug SA, Bremner PA, Bulsara M
Management of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the impact of dexamphetamine
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2008 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 18790598

Schug S
Efficacy against typical symptoms of neuropathic pain – clinical evidence on Versatis
European Journal of Pain 2008, 11(1) Supp. 1:55-56

Publications 2007:

Christoph T, Kögel B, Strassburger W, Schug SA
Tramadol has a better potency ratio relative to morphine in neuropathic than nociceptive pain models
Drugs in R&D 2007; 8(1): 51-57

Neugebauer EAM, Wilkinson RC, Kehlet H, Schug SA
PROSPECT: A practical method for formulating evidence-based expert recommendations for the management of postoperative pain
Surgical Endoscopy 2007: 21(7): 1047-1053

Schug SA
Peripheral nerve blockade carries only a minimal risk of permanent neurological complications (editorial)
Anaesthesia Intensive Care 2007; 35(1): 11-12

Schug SA, Tan TY
Functional Neuroanatomy of pain (book review)
Anaesthesia Intensive Care 2007; 35(1): 150

Schug SA, Manopas A
Update on the role of non-opioids for postoperative pain treatment
Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology 2007; 21(1): 15-30

Schug SA, Camu F, Joshi G
Parecoxib – getting to the heart of the matter (letter)
Anaesthesia 2007; 62(3): 291-292

Schug SA, Kehlet H, Bonnet F, Camu F, Fischer B, Joshi G, Neugebauer EAM, Rawal N, Simanski C
Procedure specific pain management after surgery – “PROSPECT” (editorial)
Acute Pain 2007; 9(2): 55-57
Schug SA, Flisberg P, Kurowski I, Ledowski T
Local Anaesthetics
In: Side Effects of Drugs, Annual 29
edited by J. Aronson
Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2007, pp. 135-144

Hocking G, Visser E, Schug SA, Cousins MJ
Ketamine – does life begin at 40?
Pain: Clinical Updates 2007; 15(3): 1-6

Ledowski T, Preuss J, Ford A, Paech MJ, McTernan C, Kapila R, Schug SA
New Parameters of Skin Conductance Compared with Bispectral Index Monitoring to Assess Emergence from Total Intravenous Anaesthesia
Br J Anaesth 2007; 99: 547-551


Macintyre PE, Schug SA
Acute Pain Management – A Practical Guide
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier 2007

Schug SA
The role of tramadol in current treatment strategies for musculoskeletal pain
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 2007; 3(5): 717–723

Ledowski T, Bromilow J, Wu J, Paech MJ, Storm H, Schug SA
The assessment of postoperative pain by monitoring skin conductance: results of a prospective study
Anaesthesia 2007; 62(10): 989-993

Publications 2006:

Macintyre PE, Walker S, Power I, and Schug SA
Acute pain management: scientific evidence revisited
Br J Anaesth 2006; 96: 1-4

Macintyre PE, Schug SA, Scott DA
Acute pain management: The evidence grows
MJA 2006; 184(3): 101-102

Schug SA, Zamil K
Neuropathic pain – How to treat?
Sensorium 2006; 9: 6-8

Schug SA
A special interest group acute pain of the IASP has been formed!
Acute Pain 2006; 8(1): 1-2

Macintyre PE, Walker S, Power I, and Schug SA
Impossible test or reasonable aim?
Br J Anaesth 2006; 96: 669-670

Ledowski T, Paech MJ, Patel B, Schug SA
Bronchial mucus transport velocity in patients receiving propofol and remifentanil versus sevoflurane and remifentanil anesthesia
Anesth Analg 2006; 102: 1427-1430

Browne AL, Schug SA, Ray P, French D
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Pretreatment Assessment of Patients with Persistent Pain: Identifying Factors Associated With Pain-related Disability
Pain Medicine 2006; 7(5): 466-467

Chong C, Schug SA, Page-Sharp M, Ilett K
Bioavailability of ketamine after oral or sublingual administration
Pain Medicine 2006; 7(5): 469

Schug SA
The role of COX-2 inhibitors in the treatment of postoperative pain
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2006; 47(Suppl. 1): S82-86

Schug SA
Combination Analgesia in 2005 – A Rational Approach: Focus on Paracetamol–Tramadol
Clinical Rheumatology 2006; 25 (Suppl. 1): S16-21

Ledowski T, Paech MJ, Storm H, Jones R, Schug SA
Skin Conductance Monitoring Compared with Bispectral Index Monitoring to Assess Emergence from General Anaesthesia using Sevoflurane and Remifentanil
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2006; 97(2):187-191


Visser EJ, Schug SA
The Role of Ketamine in Pain Management
Biomedicine&Pharmacotherapy 2006; 60: 341-348

Schug SA, Camu F, Joshi G, Pan S, Cheung R
Cardiovascular safety of the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor parecoxib sodium: Review of pooled data from surgical studies
European Journal of Anaesthesia 2006; 23 (Suppl. 37): 219-220

Tziavrangos E, Schug SA
Regional anaesthesia and perioperative outcome
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology 2006; 19(5): 521-525

Schug SA, Saunders D, Kurowski I, Paech MJ
Neuraxial Drug Administration: A Review of Treatment Options
CNS Drugs 2006; 20(11): 917-933

Chong C, Schug SA, Page-Sharp M, Ilett K
Bioavailability of ketamine after oral or sublingual administration
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2006; 34(4): 529

Browne AL, Schug SA, Ray P, French D
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Pretreatment Assessment of Patients with Persistent Pain: Identifying Factors Associated With Pain-related Disability
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2006; 34(4): 529-530

Auret K, Bruce D, Goucke R, Kristjanson L, Schug S, Toye C
Testing of pain assessment tools in residential aged care facilities
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2006; 34(4): 552

Browne A, Ray P, Schug S
Investigating the role of pain beliefs and coping responses in predicting physical and psychological outcomes following a cognitive behavioural group intervention for chronic pain
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2006; 34(4): 554

Ledowski T, Paech MJ, Clarke M, Schug SA
The influence of catecholamines on pseudocholinesterase enzymatic activity. Results of a laboratory investigation.
International Journal of Clinical Monitoring 2006; 20: 329-332

Ledowski T, Bromilow J, Paech MJ, Storm H, Hacking R, Schug SA
Skin conductance monitoring compared with Bispectral Index(R) to assess
emergence from total i.v. anaesthesia using propofol and remifentanil
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2006;97:817-821

Ledowski T, Bromilow J, Paech MJ, Storm H, Hacking R, Schug SA
Monitoring of skin conductance to assess postoperative pain intensity
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2006 97: 862-865.

Schug SA
Safety aspects of postoperative pain management
ASEAN Journal of Anaesthesiology 2006;8:21


Schug SA
Effect of neuraxial blockade on perioperative outcome
ASEAN Journal of Anaesthesiology 2006;8:29

Schug SA
Update on opioid pharmacology, in particular tramadol
ASEAN Journal of Anaesthesiology 2006;8:60

Brandon EL, Schug SAPostoperative pain, compartment syndrome
Brandon EL, Schug SAPostoperative pain, pre-emptive or preventive analgesia
Flisberg P, Schug SAPostoperative pain, patient controlled analgesia devices - epidural
Harper S, Schug SAPostoperative pain, adverse events (associated with acute pain management)
Harper S, Schug SATransition from acute to chronic pain
Harper S, Schug SAPostoperative pain, pre-operative education
Karim Z, Schug SAPostoperative pain, pathophysiological changes in metabolism in response to acute pain
Karim Z, Schug SAPostoperative pain, pathophysiological changes in cardiac function in response to acute pain
Karim Z, Schug SAPostoperative pain, pathophysiological changes in neuro-endocrine function in response to acute pain
Pollock KM, Schug SAPostoperative pain, patient controlled analgesia devices - parenteral
Schug SA, Shah TPostoperative pain, multi-modal analgesia
Shah T, Schug SALower back pain, acute
Tweedie OJ, Schug SAPostoperative pain, venous thrombembolism
Williams WA, Schug SAPostoperative pain, persistent acute pain
In:Encyclopedia of Pain
edited by RF Schmidt & WD Willis
Springer Verlag, Heidelberg und Berlin
Online-publication 2006 (DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2)

SA Schug, Pollock KM
Local Anaesthetics
In:Meyler’s Side Effects of Drugs
Edited by JK Aronson (15th Edition), Volume 4: pp. 2116-2157
Elsevier Science, Amsterdam 2006

Schug SA, Manopas A
4. Die Pharmakotherapie des neuropathischen Schmerzes
In:Der neuropathische Schmerz – aktuelle Therapiekonzepte
Edited by A. Spacek (1st Edition): pp 29-38
UNI-MED SCIENCE, Bremen, 2006
Schug SA
10.5. Der zentrale Schmerz
In:Der neuropathische Schmerz – aktuelle Therapiekonzepte
Edited by A. Spacek (1st Edition): pp 80-84
UNI-MED SCIENCE, Bremen, 2006

Tan TY, Schug SA
Safety aspects of postoperative pain management
Reviews in Analgesia 2006, 9(1): 45-53

Schug SA, Gillespie G
Post Amputation Pain Syndromes
In:Mechanisms of Vascular Disease:
A Textbook for Vascular Surgeons
edited by M Thompson and R Fitridge
Greenwich Medical Media, London, 2006

Schug SA, Daly HCS, Stannard KJD
Pathophysiology of Pain
In:Mechanisms of Vascular Disease:
A Textbook for Vascular Surgeons
edited by M Thompson and R Fitridge
Greenwich Medical Media, London, 2006

Schug SA, Stannard KJD
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
In:Mechanisms of Vascular Disease:
A Textbook for Vascular Surgeons
edited by M Thompson and R Fitridge
Greenwich Medical Media, London, 2006

Memberships

Current Membership of Professional Colleges, Faculties and Societies:
Fellow of the Australian New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Management of ANZCA

Special Interest Group ‘Acute Pain’ of IASP (Chair)
Special Interest Group ‘Acute Pain’ of ANZCA (Board Member)
American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anaesthesie und Intensivmedizin (DGAI)
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
SIG ‘The Sympathetic Nervous System and Pain’ of IASP
Australian Pain Society (APS)
New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS)

Current Membership in Academic and Research Committees
Clinical Trials Committee of ANZCA Research Committee
Research Committee of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of ANZCA
Education and Training Committee of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of ANZCA
NHMRC Acute Pain Guidelines Review Committee, FPMANZCA
PROSPECT Expert Panel

Medical Curriculum Committee,
University of Western Australia

Current Membership of Professional Committees
Western Australia Anaesthetic Mortality Committee, Minister for Health, WA
Western Australia Regional Committee of ANZCA
Western Australian Regional Committee of ASA

Honours and awards

1976-84scholar of "Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes" [German National Scholarship
Foundation]
1996Best Teacher Award, Dept of Anaesthesia, Auckland Hospital
1996University of Auckland Distinguished Teacher Award
2004 Organon Research Award of ANZCA
2008ASPECT ANZCA Research Fellowship

Previous positions

1988Consultant Anaesthetist, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, University of Cologne
Co-Director, Cancer Pain Management Center, University of Cologne
1989-1990Temporary Acting Specialist Anaesthetist,
Pain Clinic and Department of Anaesthesia, Auckland Hospital
1991-1994Senior Lecturer in Anaesthetics, University of Auckland
1995-1999Associate Professor in Anaesthetics, University of Auckland
1991-1999Head, Section of Anaesthetics, Dept. of Pharmacology,School of Medicine, University of Auckland
1989-2000Clinical Director, Acute Pain Service, Auckland Hospital
1991-1999Visiting Specialist, The Auckland Regional Pain Service and Dept. of Anaesthesia, Auckland Hospital
2000Professor and Chair, Division of Anaesthesiology, University of Auckland

Current external positions

Visiting Professor (May 2009 - May 2010)
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
University Hospital of Muenster

Honorary Professor of Anaesthesiology
University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Research profile

Research profile and publications