Specialist Anaesthetist

Dr David McLeod

MBBS, FANZCA, FFARCSI, LMCC (Canada), Dip Obs RACOG

Special Interests:

  • Anaesthesia for orthopaedic upper and lower limb surgery, including shoulder arthroscopic repair and replacement, hip and knee replacement, anterior cruciate ligament repair, major and minor reconstructive and traumatic foot and ankle surgery.
  • Regional and spinal anaesthesia and peripheral nerve blockade for non-opioid based post-operative acute pain management.
  • Enhanced recovery after surgery with multimodal pain management and reduced reliance on opioid pain medication.
  • Anaesthesia for gastrointestinal surgery including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve resection, oesophagectomy, cholecystectomy, incisional inguinal and hiatus hernia repair.
  • Neuroanaesthesia for craniotomy, tumour resection, deep brain stimulation and major spinal surgery.
  • Anaesthesia for oculoplastic and cataract surgery.
  • Obstetric anaesthesia.
  • Medical aid to areas of need in the developing world, predominantly cleft lip and palate repairs in East Timor and Eastern Indonesia.

Biography:

After graduating from the University of Adelaide Faculty of Medicine in 1981, Dr McLeod completed his internship and basic medical and surgical training at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, followed by a Diploma in Obstetrics attained after working at the now defunct Queen Victoria Hospital. This was followed by 6 months of Paediatric training at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital.

In 1985 Dr McLeod commenced his anaesthetic training in the British National Health Service at the Poole Hospital, Dorset, England. After 18 months his training continued for 3 years in Glasgow, Scotland at the Western Infirmary and related hospitals. After gaining a Fellowship in Anaesthesia with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1989, he returned to Adelaide and completed his Australian anaesthetic training at the Queen Elizabeth and Adelaide Children’s Hospital, which included 18 months of specialty training in paediatric anaesthesia.

In 1992 following short stints in Whyalla, Mildura, and Longreach with the Queensland Flying Surgeon Service, Dr McLeod commenced 2 years of post fellowship training in Vancouver Canada where his clinical and research endeavours focused on cardiac and thoracic anaesthesia and peripheral nerve blockade for foot and ankle surgery.

On returning to Adelaide in 1994 Dr McLeod was appointed as Consultant Anaesthetist at Flinders Medical Centre where he was the Supervisor of (Anaesthetic) Training for 11 years.

In 2000 he joined Specialist Anaesthetic Services and since then has divided his time between his public appointment at Flinders Medical Centre and private practice.

His clinical interests over the years have moved from cardiothoracic anaesthesia, neonatal and paediatric anaesthesia and liver transplantation to upper and lower limb orthopaedic reconstructive and trauma surgery, including joint replacements of the shoulder, hip and knee, and major and minor surgery of the foot and ankle. He also anaesthetises for bariatric (weight reducing) surgery, oesophagectomy, oculoplastic (eyelid) and cataract surgery, and neurosurgery.

Dr McLeod is a foundation executive member of the national Regional Anaesthesia Special Interest Group with the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.

He regularly organizes and presents at national anaesthetic meetings and runs local regional block workshops. He is still very involved in the teaching of medical students, junior doctors, anaesthetic trainees and specialist anaesthetists.

He is a member of the Overseas Specialist Surgical Association of Australia (OSSAA) and provides humanitarian medical care to East Timor and eastern Indonesia.

Dr McLeod has 6 publications in peer reviewed anaesthetic journals, and one book chapter.