Dr. Alejandro Miranda HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANAESTHESIOLOGY, REANIMATION AND PAIN MEDICINE INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO DEXEUS – USP GROUP Welcome to Department of Anaesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain Medicine at Instituto Universitario Dexeus Our department was created in 1989 under the leadership of Dr Juan Oliveras, being originally composed of 10 anaesthesiologists who carried out their healthcare activity at the operating theatres as well as in the labour and delivery areas. Back then, approximately 7,000 anaesthetic procedures were performed every year, of which 2,000 were deliveries and 5,000 were surgical or exploratory procedures.

One year later, in 1990, an event took place that became a landmark for our professional and personal careers. Our department was fully accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumers Affairs as an official centre to train specialists in the specialty of Anaesthesiology. In 1991, and as a result of this accreditation, we started our academic activities following the same steps taken previously by the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and the Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery. Since then, 12 resident doctors have completed their training in Anaesthesiology under the tutorship of our Department. This not only represents a reason for pride but strongly motivates us to continue to strive for excellence each day in order to offer the highest standards of healthcare and academic teaching.

Special mention must also be made to the fact that with the exception of cardiac surgery, all other surgical specialities are catered for at our Institute, with Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, as well as General Surgery and Paediatric Surgery being the most important. Even though the Institut is provided with 100 hospitalisation beds, healthcare demands have been steadily increasing in these past years. This is clearly illustrated by the approximately 14,000 surgical procedures performed in 2005, including their corresponding preoperative assessments; the 400 interventions at the Pain Management Clinic; the 300 admissions into the Recovery Unit; and, the over 500 treatments prescribed to manage postoperative pain in hospitalisation wards.

In 2007 we will be moving into a new larger centre that will be equipped with cutting-edge technology. The number of beds will increase from 100 to 150 and cardiac surgery will also be catered for, thus covering the full range of surgical specialties. This innovation allows us to envision a promising future with many challenges that we hope to be able to meet satisfactorily as our way to contribute towards the consolidation of the Institute as an integral healthcare centre where medical practice becomes more and more humanised and effective every day.		Model of the new IUD (North Side)

As a last word, I would only like to say that I hope that our website helps you learn more about who we are, what we do, and that the information provided helps you to understand all aspects relating to anaesthesiology, recovery or postoperative care, as well as the management of chronic and acute pain.

I hope that residents and patients alike are enthusiastic about our project and that the contents of our website allow you to render a positive opinion of our centre for your information or treatment.