Paul Firth, MB, BCh
Position
Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Clinicial Specialty
Pediatric Anesthesia
Professional Activities
My interests include high-altitude physiology and sickle cell anemia, both examples of complex physiology and pathophysiology related to oxygen delivery. I am currently examining mortality patterns at extreme altitude amongst Himalayan mountaineers as a model of the effects of hypoxemia on an otherwise healthy population. My other work on the anesthetic management of sickle cell anemia challenged the traditional model of the disease as a consequence of red cell sickling, and suggested rather that the disease is a problem of vascular damage and dysfunction.
Medical Training
University of Cape Town
Publications
Original articles:
1. Sperling R, Greve D, Dale A, Killiany R, Holmes J, Rosas HD, Cocchiarella A, Firth P, Rosen B, Lake S, Lange N, Routledge C, Albert M. Functional MRI detection of pharmacologically induced memory impairment. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2002; 99(1): 455-60
2. Firth PG, Pattinson KT. Anesthesia and high altitude: a history. Anaesthesia 2008; 63 (6): 662-70
Clinical reports:
1. Firth P. Vasovagal syncope: an unusual cause of postpartum collapse. J Obstet Gynaecol 1997; 17: 491
2. Firth PG, Ahmed MI. Systemic embolism in an infant following haemangioma embolization: a two-step process. Paed Anaesth 2003; 13 (8):728-32
3. Firth PG, Tsurata Y, Kamath Y, Dzik WH, Ogilvy CS, Peterfreund RA. Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury or Acute Chest Syndrome of Sickle Cell Disease? - A case report. Can J Anesth 2003; 50(9): 895-9
4. Firth PG, Bolay H. Transient High-Altitude Neurological Dysfunction - An Origin in the Temporal-Parietal Cortex. High Alt Med Biol 2004; 5(1): 71-5)
Reviews, book chapters:
1. Firth PG, Peterfreund RA. Management of multiple intracranial aneurysms: neuroanesthetic considerations of sickle cell disease. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 2000; 12(4): 366-71
2. Firth PG, Head CA. Sickle cell disease and anesthesia. Anesthesiology 2004; 101(3): 766-85. Comment: 2005; 103(1): 205-7
3. Firth PG. Anaesthesia for peculiar cells - a century of sickle cell disease. Br J Anaesth 2005; 95(3): 287-99
4. Firth PG. Sickle Cell Disease. In: Litman R, editor. Pediatic Anesthesia Practice (Pocket Editions). Cambridge University Press 2007
5. Firth PG, Haver KE. Essentials of pulmonology. In: Cote CJ, Todres ID, Lehrman J, editors. A Practice of Anesthesia for Infants and Children (4th ed.) (In press)
Non-print textbook:
1. Firth P, Pian-Smith MCM. Anesthetic Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage. In: Bailin M et al, editors. HEAL: Harvard Electronic Anesthesia Library. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001
2. Firth PG. Sickle Cell Disease. In. Litman R. Pediatric Anesthesia - Palmbook (2nd ed.) 2006
In preparation:
1. Firth PG, Zheng H, Windsor JS, Sutherland AI, Imray CH, Moore GWK, Roach RC, Semple JL, Salisbury R. Mortality on Mount Everest (clinical study)
2. Firth PG, Szabo MD. Autologous transfusion and sickle cell disease. (Clinical report)
3. Zhang X, Firth PG. Third degree atrio-ventricular block in a four-year-old child during sevoflurane anesthesia. Paed Anaesth (In revision) (Letter)
Abstracts:
1. Firth P. AIDS and the South African media: changing attitudes. Abstract Book, 8th International Medical Science Student Congress, Istanbul University. 1992, p16.
2. Firth P. Beden dişi deneyim ve otoskopik fenomenler Gazi Med J 2006; 17(3): 131-3
3. Firth P. Ölűm ve derin anestezi deneyimleri. Gazi Med J 2006; 17(3): 137-9
Other published material:
Newspaper publications (medical):
1(a). Firth P. The man who wasn't there. The Guardian, UK. 2003 May 29.
1(b). Firth P. The ghosts of high altitude. The Mail and Guardian, South Africa. 2003 May 23-29
1(c). Firth P. Everest: the ghosts of high altitude. The Buenos Aires Herald, Argentina. 2003 May
2. Firth P. Forgotten Aberdeen scientist pioneered high-altitude physiology. The Press and Journal, Aberdeen, UK. 2003 May 29
3(a). Firth P. From Bulawayo to Everest. The Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe. 2003 May 29
3(b). Firth P. From Bulawayo to Everest. The Natal Witness, South Africa. 2003 June 1
4. Firth P, Belen D. Anestezinin keşfi ve buluşcularin bűyűk trajedsi. Bilim Teknik, Turkey. 2006 November 20
Contact Information
Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-2130
Public Transportation Access: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
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