Anuj Bhatia MD PhD FRCPC (Anesthesia, Pain Medicine)

Professor of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Director of Comprehensive Integrated Pain Programs, and Leader in Neuromodulation Research

Research Expertise

Chronic pain
Neuropathic pain
Interventional procedures for pain management
Outcomes
Spinal cord

About

Highly accomplished Anesthesiologist and Pain Medicine specialist with extensive expertise in clinical practice, research, education, and administration. Proven leader in developing novel therapeutic options and implementing strategies for treating chronic neuropathic pain, specializing in neuromodulation therapies and ultrasound-guided techniques. Significant contributions to clinical epidemiology, guideline development, and the organization of educational events for pain physicians across Canada and internationally. Holds multiple professorships and director roles, focusing on expanding interventional pain services, digital outcome tracking, and advancing patient care through evidence-based practices and innovative research.

Publications

Consensus Guidelines on the Use of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Acute Pain Management From the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2018
Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for lumbar facet joint pain from a multispecialty, international working group
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2020
Caring for patients with pain during the COVID ‐19 pandemic: consensus recommendations from an international expert panel
Anaesthesia
2020
Selective Cannabinoids for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2017
Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2019
Neuromonitoring in the intensive care unit. I. Intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow monitoring
Intensive Care Medicine
2007
Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Procedures in Interventional Pain Management
Unknown Venue
2018
Development and Validation of a New Technique for Ultrasound-Guided Stellate Ganglion Block
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2009
Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for cervical spine (facet) joint pain from a multispecialty international working group
Pain Medicine
2021
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for Treating Lumbosacral Radicular Pain from Herniated Intervertebral Discs
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2016
Effect of intraoperative magnesium infusion on perioperative analgesia in open cholecystectomy
Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
2004
Weeding Out the Problem: The Impact of Preoperative Cannabinoid Use on Pain in the Perioperative Period
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2019
Needle to Nerve Proximity
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2011
Radiofrequency Procedures to Relieve Chronic Hip Pain
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2018
Brain Dynamics and Temporal Summation of Pain Predicts Neuropathic Pain Relief from Ketamine Infusion
Anesthesiology
2018
Pneumothorax as a Complication of the Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Approach for Brachial Plexus Block
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2010
Prophylactic Dexamethasone for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Strabismus Surgery: A Dose Ranging and Safety Evaluation Study
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2005
Radiofrequency Procedures to Relieve Chronic Knee Pain
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2016
Low Back Pain in Pregnancy: Investigations, Management, and Role of Neuraxial Analgesia and Anaesthesia: A Systematic Review
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation
2017
Neuromonitoring in the intensive care unit. II. Cerebral oxygenation monitoring and microdialysis
Intensive Care Medicine
2007
Circulatory collapse after topical application of vancomycin powder during spine surgery
Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine
2013
Evaluation of sonoanatomy relevant to performing stellate ganglion blocks using anterior and lateral simulated approaches: an observational study
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Pudendal Nerve Block Under Ultrasound and Fluoroscopic Guidance
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2012
Pectoralis and Serratus Fascial Plane Blocks Each Provide Early Analgesic Benefits Following Ambulatory Breast Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Propensity-Matched Cohort Study
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2017
Effect of Prophylactic Ondansetron on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Elective Craniotomy
Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology
2001
Adverse Reactions to Contrast Material: A Canadian Update
Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal
2017
Treatment of Chronic Pain With Various Buprenorphine Formulations: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2018
User Engagement and Clinical Impact of the Manage My Pain App in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Real-World, Multi-site Trial
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
2021
Comparison of Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Guidance for Sacroiliac Joint Injection in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain
Pain Practice
2015
Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics
1995
Radiofrequency Procedures for the Treatment of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Pain Medicine
2019
Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block for Meralgia Paresthetica
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2008
Chronic pain in children in the UK: a survey of pain clinicians and general practitioners
Pediatric Anesthesia
2008
Comparison of two ultrasound-guided techniques for greater occipital nerve injections in chronic migraine: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2019
A Review of Current Denervation Techniques for Chronic Hip Pain: Anatomical and Technical Considerations
Current Pain and Headache Reports
2019
Comparison of Anatomic Landmarks and Ultrasound Guidance for Intercostal Nerve Injections in Cadavers
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2013
Hypoglycemia and Cardiac Arrest in a Critically Ill Patient on Strict Glycemic Control
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2006
Efficacy of Low-dose Dexamethasone for Preventing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting following Strabismus Repair in Children
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
2004
Exploring sex differences in alpha brain activity as a potential neuromarker associated with neuropathic pain
Pain
2021
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of radiofrequency procedures on innervation to the shoulder joint for relieving chronic pain
European Journal of Pain
2021
Stellate ganglion block for non-pain indications: a scoping review
Pain Medicine
2023
Is Ultrasound Guidance Advantageous for Interventional Pain Management? A Systematic Review of Chronic Pain Outcomes
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2013
Perineural steroids for trauma and compression-related peripheral neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
2015
No Benefits of Adding Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine, Dexamethasone, and Nerve Blocks to an Established Multimodal Analgesic Regimen after Total Knee Arthroplasty
Anesthesiology
2022
Plasticity in the dynamic pain connectome associated with ketamine-induced neuropathic pain relief
Pain
2019
Compassionate Care in the Age of Evidence-Based Practice: A Critical Discourse Analysis in the Context of Chronic Pain Care
Academic Medicine
2018
Predictive factors for sleep apnoea in patients on opioids for chronic pain
BMJ Open Respiratory Research
2019
Current and future pharmacological agents for the treatment of back pain
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
2020
The analgesic efficacy of the transversalis fascia plane block in iliac crest bone graft harvesting: a randomized controlled trial
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2019
A scoping review of perineural steroids for the treatment of chronic postoperative inguinal pain
Hernia
2016
Quality of chronic pain interventional treatment guidelines from pain societies: Assessment with the AGREE II instrument
European Journal of Pain
2020
Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spasticity: a Systematic Review of the Literature
World Neurosurgery
2024
Evaluating the impact of cannabinoids on sleep health and pain in patients with chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2022
The Use of Contrast Agents in Interventional Pain Procedures: A Multispecialty and Multisociety Practice Advisory on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, Gadolinium Deposition in the Brain, Encephalopathy After Unintentional Intrathecal Gadolinium Injection, and Hypersensitivity Reactions
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2021
Percutaneous Ozone Treatment for Herniated Lumbar Discs: 1-Year Follow-up of a Multicenter Pilot Study of a Handheld Disposable Ozone-Generating Device
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
2019
Association between multimorbidity and postoperative mortality in patients undergoing major surgery: a prospective study in 29 countries across Europe
Anaesthesia
2024
A Hidden Markov Model reveals magnetoencephalography spectral frequency-specific abnormalities of brain state power and phase-coupling in neuropathic pain
Communications Biology
2022
Intrathecal Morphine and Pulmonary Complications after Arthroplasty in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Anesthesiology
2020
Evaluating the impact of gabapentinoids on sleep health in patients with chronic neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pain
2019
Ultrasound for Interventional Pain Management
Unknown Venue
2020
Alleviation of Pancoast's Tumor Pain by Ultrasound‐Guided Percutaneous Ablation of Cervical Nerve Roots
Pain Practice
2008
A Scoping Review of the Diurnal Variation in the Intensity of Neuropathic Pain
Pain Medicine
2021
Preface
Essentials of Neuroanesthesia and Neurointensive Care
2008
A Scoping Review of Gaps Identified by Primary Care Providers in Caring for Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain
Canadian Journal of Pain
2023
The Potential Clinical Utility of Pressure-Based vs. Heat-Based Paradigms to Measure Conditioned Pain Modulation in Healthy Individuals and Those With Chronic Pain
Frontiers in Pain Research
2021
Mechanistic Rationale and Clinical Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review
Pain Research and Management
2021
Interventional pain management for chronic pain: a survey of physicians in Canada
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
2019
A perioperative approach to the opioid crisis
Canadian Medical Association Journal
2018
Magnetically Guided Catheters, Micro- and Nanorobots for Spinal Cord Stimulation
Frontiers in Neurorobotics
2021
Pain intensity and opioid consumption after temporary and permanent peripheral nerve stimulation: a 2-year multicenter analysis
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2024
Impact of postoperative cardiovascular complications on 30‐day mortality after major abdominal surgery: an international prospective cohort study
Anaesthesia
2024
Common Entrapment Neuropathies
Seminars in Neurology
2019
The State of Synthetic Cannabinoid Medications for the Treatment of Pain
CNS Drugs
2024
Medical Cannabis Use and Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines Among Adult Chronic Pain Patients
Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research
2024
North American Neuromodulation Society Educational Curriculum for Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems Implantation and Management
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface
2023
A scoping review of novel spinal cord stimulation modes for complex regional pain syndrome
Canadian Journal of Pain
2019
Scheduled prophylactic ondansetron administration did not improve its antiemetic efficacy after intracranial tumour resection surgery in children
European Journal of Anaesthesiology
2007
Vertebroplasty in the management of painful bony metastases
Current Pain and Headache Reports
2009
Role of peripheral nerve stimulation in treating chronic neuropathic pain: an international focused survey of pain medicine experts
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2023
Recommendations for disclosure of artificial intelligence in scientific writing and publishing: a regional anesthesia and pain medicine modified Delphi study
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2025
Study protocol for a pilot, randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial of perineural local anaesthetics and steroids for chronic post-traumatic neuropathic pain in the ankle and foot: the PREPLANS study
BMJ Open
2016
Mast Cell-A Gatekeeper Of The Microvasculature In The Oral Cavity: A Review
The Internet Journal of Pathology
2012
Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophyseal joints: a prospective, open-label study
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
2024
An examination of referrals declined for chronic pain care: There is increasing mental health complexity within care-seeking patients with chronic pain over time
Canadian Journal of Pain
2024
Problems With O’Connell et al, “Implanted Spinal Neuromodulation Interventions for Chronic Pain in Adults” (Cochrane Review)
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface
2023
A Scoping Review of Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Improving Motor and Voiding Function Following Spinal Cord Injury
Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
2023
Cryoneurolysis of Innervation to Sacroiliac Joints: Technical Description and Initial Results—A Case Series
A&A Practice
2021
Evaluation of Postsurgical Hyperalgesia and Sensitization After Open Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Useful Model for Neuropathic Pain?
The Journal of Pain
2019
Perineural steroid injections around ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves for treatment of chronic refractory neuropathic pain: A retrospective study
Canadian Journal of Pain
2017
Ketamine as an adjunct to patient-controlled analgesia: why, for whom, and how much?
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
2015
Sacroiliac joint complex pain consensus practice guidelines from a multispecialty, international working group: an infographic
Pain Medicine
2025
Improving access to chronic pain care with central referral and triage: The 6-year findings from a single-entry model
Canadian Journal of Pain
2024
Intraoperative Ketamine for the Opioid-Naïve Patients: Move Along Folks, Nothing to See Here?
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2020
Ultrasound-Guided Procedures for Pain Management
Essentials of Pain Medicine
2018
Breaking Bad (Tissue): Epidural Adhesiolysis and Its Outcomes
Anesthesia & Analgesia
2017
AMALGAMATION OF AYURVEDIC CONCEPT WITH MODERN MEDICAL PRACTICE TO MANAGE KIDNEY STONE DISEASE (UROLITHIASIS): AN ABBREVIATED REVIEW
INDIAN DRUGS
2018
Efficacy of mobile health interventions in the conservative management of chronic low back pain in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis
PAIN Reports
2025
Pretreatment Brain White Matter Integrity Associated With Neuropathic Pain Relief and Changes in Temporal Summation of Pain Following Ketamine
The Journal of Pain
2024
Analgesic effect of perineural local anesthetics, steroids, and conventional medical management for trauma and compression-related peripheral neuropathic pain: a retrospective cohort study
PAIN Reports
2021
Association of preoperative corticosteroids with persistent opioid requirements following total knee arthroplasty: an exploratory population-based cohort study
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
2026
Faculty Opinions recommendation of Incidence, prevalence, and predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
2016
The framework of chronic pain management: Redefining the outcomes
Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
2025
Blinding Integrity in Psychedelic Randomized Clinical Trials
JAMA Psychiatry
2026

Education

University of Toronto

PhD, Clinical Epidemiology / June, 2024

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Healthcare Leadership program, Healthcare Leadership / 2026 (anticipated)

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto

PhD, Clinical Epidemiology / 2021

University of Toronto

Fellowship, Regional Anesthesia / 2010

Eastern Deanery Cambridge

Specialist Registrar, Anesthesia / 2009

University of Toronto

Fellowship, Pain Management / 2009

Eastern Deanery Cambridge

Specialist Registrar, Research Anesthesia and Pain Management / 2007

Eastern Deanery Cambridge

Specialist Registrar, Anaesthesia and Pain Management / 2006

Eastern Deanery Cambridge

Senior House Officer, Anesthesia / 2004

Experience

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Adjunct Faculty / April, 2023December

Adjunct Faculty contributing to academic endeavors in health policy, management, and evaluation.

University Health Network

Director (Anesthesia) Comprehensive Integrated Pain Program / April, 2022December

Led the expansion of Interventional Pain Services (IPS), increasing resources from 3 to 8 Pain Medicine Physicians and integrating digital outcome tracking. Doubled patient consultations for new and follow-up visits within 5 years.

Active Staff Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management / May, 2010December

Serves as Active Staff in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management.

Altum Health, University Health Network

Medical Director Anesthesia and Pain Medicine / June, 2019December

Serves as Medical Director overseeing Anesthesia and Pain Medicine services.

Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Professor / July, 2023December

Holds a professorship, contributing to teaching, research, and clinical advancements in Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Associate Professor / July, 2017June, 2023

Served as Associate Professor, engaged in academic responsibilities including teaching, research, and clinical practice within Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Assistant Professor / May, 2010June, 2017

Held an Assistant Professorship, contributing to academic and clinical work in Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Womens College Hospital

Courtesy Staff Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management / May, 2013December

Provides medical services as Courtesy Staff in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management.

Toronto Western Hospital

Director Anesthesia Acute & Chronic Pain Clinical Services / July, 2011December

Responsible for efficient delivery of Chronic Pain Services across University Health Network, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Womens College Hospital. Expanded interventional pain procedures, reducing patient waiting times, initiated efficacy reviews, and established an Interventional Pain Suite at Mount Sinai Hospital, and a referral system for cancer-related pain.

Mount Sinai Hospital

Associate Staff Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management / May, 2010December

Serves as Associate Staff in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management.

Guys and St Thomas Hospitals

Honorary Consultant Neuromodulation / February, 2017January, 2018

Consultant specializing in Neuromodulation.

Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network

Director Anesthesia Chronic Pain Fellowship Program / May, 2010July, 2011

Directed the Anesthesia Chronic Pain Fellowship Program, overseeing its curriculum and trainee development.

Links & Social Media

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