Monitoring & Postoperative Complications Expert Witness

Basis of Dr. Urits's opinions on this topic. Dr. Urits is board certified in Anesthesiology and in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. His opinions about anesthesia care rest on his anesthesia residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School, his board certification in Anesthesiology, and his published research. Retaining counsel should confirm expert qualifications under the rules of their jurisdiction.

Many perioperative injuries are discovered, or get worse, in recovery. These cases ask whether the patient was monitored appropriately, whether warning signs were recognized, and whether the response came in time. Dr. Urits has published on postoperative cognitive dysfunction, emergence and postoperative delirium, postoperative pulmonary complications, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and alternatives to opioids for postoperative pain.

Common issues

• Adequacy of intraoperative and PACU monitoring, and discharge criteria

• Respiratory depression and hypoxic events after surgery, including during transport

• Postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction, especially in older patients

• Postoperative pulmonary complications

• Postoperative nausea and vomiting, aspiration risk, and their management

• Postoperative pain control, opioid use, and opioid-sparing alternatives

Relevant publications by Dr. Urits

• Urits I, Orhurhu V, Jones M, et al. Current Perspectives on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in the Ageing Population. Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2019.

• Urits I, Peck J, Giacomazzi S, et al. Emergence Delirium in Perioperative Pediatric Care: A Review of Current Evidence and New Directions. Adv Ther. 2020.

• Herman J, Urman RD, Urits I, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. Which interventions can reduce post-operative delirium in the elderly? Synthesis of multidisciplinary and pharmacological intervention data. J Clin Anesth. 2022.

• Bartlett E, Urman RD, Urits I, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. The role of inspiratory oxygen fraction in postoperative pulmonary complications. J Clin Anesth. 2022.

• Urits I, Orhurhu V, Jones MR, et al. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Paediatric Anaesthesia. Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2020.

• Kassem H, Urits I, Kaye AD, Viswanath O. Finding Suitable Alternatives to Opioids for Postoperative Pain Control. Pain Physician. 2020.

• Urits I, Owais K, Jennings M. Root Cause Analysis: Hypoxic Respiratory Arrest During Transport. Grand Rounds, BIDMC / Harvard Medical School, 2017 (oral presentation).