A NSW Government website
From the early years of vascular surgery in Australia, Concord Repatriation General Hospital has a reputation for innovative surgical research.
In recent years, our research has focused on cross-discipline collaborative research and population-wide surgical outcomes. Our population-based research evaluates the impact of age-related illness on vascular outcomes. Collaborating with the geriatric medicine department, we have designed and evaluated the Geri-CoV service, a shared-care model designed to enhance surgical outcomes and decrease complications in older patients admitted for vascular issues.
Our focus on patient centred outcomes is developed through qualitative research projects evaluating patient experiences with chronic-limb threatening ischaemia and amputation. We also are active in a number of translational research projects, evaluating new and innovative therapies to treat vascular disease. Concord has been the lead site for multicentre trainee collaborative research trials in vascular illness, in particular the Australian lead site for the COVID-19 Vascular sERvice (COVER) study.
The unit is very engaged in teaching, both at medical student and for doctors in training. We have research projects related to medical education and development. Members of our research team have active teaching roles with the University of Sydney and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
| Dr Richard Kerdic | Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Researcher, Head of Department |
| Dr Sarah Aitken | Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Academic, Clinical Researcher, Co-chair Concord Institute of Academic Surgery |
| Dr Robert Tang | Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Researcher, Coordinator University of Sydney MS vascular unit |
| Dr Saissan Rajendran | Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Researcher, MPhil candidate |
| Dr Sue Monaro | Vascular Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Researcher |
| Amount awarded | Grant and project details |
| $1,400,000 | MRFF, 2022-2025 Beyond Country of Birth: Ethnicity and Cardiovascular Health in NSW Investigators: Stanaway F, Aitken S, Kritharides L, Wilson A, Schneider C, Zhu L, Jorm L, Dickson M, Kelly P, Soltani S |
| Telianidis S, Aitken SJ. The prevalent causes of death in patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing revascularisation or amputation. Vascular. 2024 Dec;32(6):1276-1284. doi: 10.1177/17085381241236562. |
| Aitken SJ, James S, Lawrence A, Glover A, Pleass H, Thillianadesan J, Monaro S, Hitos K, Naganathan V; SHP Perioperative CAG collaborators. Codesign of health technology interventions to support best-practice perioperative care and surgical waitlist management. BMJ Health Care Inform. 2024 Mar 12;31(1):e100928. doi: 10.1136/bmjhci-2023-100928. |
| Zhu A, Tang R, Rajendran S, Hajian H, Aitken SJ. Prescriber decision-making on antithrombotic therapy after endovascular intervention for peripheral artery disease: a protocol for a discrete choice experiment. BMJ Open. 2024 Mar 20;14(3):e079668. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079668. |
| Narayanan A, Musicki K, Aitken SJ, Taumoepeau L, Khashram M. Restoring flow to the Aotearoa New Zealand vascular workforce pipeline requires tangible strategic interventions. ANZ J Surg. 2024 May;94(5):782-784. doi: 10.1111/ans.18990. |
| Zhu A, Aitken SJ. Failing in the system or systemic failure? The inherent tension within surgical trainee underperformance and remediation. Am J Surg. 2024 Aug;234:9-10. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.03.016. |
| Zhu A, Rajendran S, Hajian H, Aitken S. Patient Factors Influencing Prescription of Antithrombotic Medication After Lower Limb Endovascular Intervention. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2024 Oct;68(4):510-518. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2024.05.034. |
| Sena Board M, McBride KE, Solomon MJ, Aitken SJ, Rickard MJFX, Collins JM, Steffens D. Australian surgeon attitudes and experiences towards completing a higher degree by research. Aust Health Rev. 2024 Aug;48(4):406-413. doi: 10.1071/AH23230. |
| Cartland SP, Patil MS, Kelland E, Le N, Boccanfuso L, Stanley CP, Cholan PM, Dona MI, Patrick R, McGrath J, Su QP, Alwis I, Ganss R, Powell JE, Harvey RP, Pinto AR, Griffith TS, Loa J, Aitken SJ, Robinson DA, Patel S, Kavurma MM. The generation of stable microvessels in ischemia is mediated by endothelial cell derived TRAIL. Sci Adv. 2024 Oct 4;10(40):eadn8760. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn8760. |
| Aitken S, Wu R, Vasudevan T. To maintain qualified privilege and surgeon participation, clinical audit databases must adapt to changing regulations and emerging technologies. ANZ J Surg. 2023 Oct;93(10):2278-2280. doi: 10.1111/ans.18656. |
| Cartland SP, Stanley CP, Bursill C, Passam F, Figtree GA, Patel S, Loa J, Golledge J, Robinson DA, Aitken SJ, Kavurma MM. Sex, Endothelial Cell Functions, and Peripheral Artery Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Dec 13;24(24):17439. doi: 10.3390/ijms242417439. |
| Cutmore C, Hajian H, Aitken S. Is it time for integrated academic pathways in SET training? ANZ J Surg. 2023 May;93(5):1130-1131. doi: 10.1111/ans.18380. Epub 2023 Mar 13. |
| Jheun A, Cutmore C, Lee K, Rajendran S. Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery. ANZ J Surg. 2023 Oct;93(10):2535-2536. doi: 10.1111/ans.18519. Epub 2023 May 20. |
| Kavurma MM, Boccanfuso L, Cutmore C, Passam F, Patel S, Hennessy A, Loa J, Figtree GA, Golledge J, Robinson DA, Aitken S. A hidden problem: peripheral artery disease in women. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. 2023 Jun 21;9(4):342-350. doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcad011. |
| Manewell SM, Aitken SJ, Nube VL, Crawford AM, Constantino MI, Twigg SM, Menz HB, Sherrington C, Paul SS. Timing of minor and major amputation in patients with diabetes-related foot ulceration admitted to two public tertiary referral hospitals in Australia. ANZ J Surg. 2023 Jun;93(6):1510-1516. doi: 10.1111/ans.18224. Epub 2022 Dec 28. |
| Rajendran S, Brown KGM, Solomon MJ. Oncovascular surgery for advanced pelvic malignancy. Br J Surg. 2023 Jan 10;110(2):144-149. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znac414. |
| Rajendran S, Nguyen CL, Brown KGM, Solomon MJ. Clinical algorithm for the management of advanced pelvic tumours involving the aortoiliac axis. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2023 Jul;49(7):1317-1319. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2023.03.207. Epub 2023 Mar 12. |
| Rajendran S, Nguyen CL, Brown KGM, Solomon MJ. The evolution of oncovascular pelvic surgery: A historical perspective. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2023 Jul;49(7):1314-1316. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2023.01.018. Epub 2023 Jan 18. |
| Stavert B, Monaro S, Naganathan V, Aitken S. Frailty predicts increased risk of reintervention in the 2 years after arteriovenous fistula creation. J Vasc Access. 2023 Nov;24(6):1428-1437. doi: 10.1177/11297298221088756. Epub 2022 Apr 21. |
| Thillainadesan J, Box H, Kearney L, Naganathan V, Cunich M, Aitken SJ, Monaro SR. The experience of hospital care for older surgical patients and their carers: A mixed-methods study. Australas J Ageing. 2023 Sep;42(3):535-544. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13176. Epub 2023 Feb 27. |
| Thillainadesan J, Naganathan V, Hilmer SN, Kerdic R, Aitken SJ. Microlearning for surgical residents enhances perioperative comprehensive geriatric assessment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 Dec;71(12):E30-E33. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18612. Epub 2023 Sep 29. |
| Wang J, James S, Hilmer SN, Aitken SJ, Soo G, Naganathan V, Kearney L, Thillainadesan J. Optimising Medications in Older Vascular Surgery Patients Through Geriatric Co-management. Drugs Aging. 2023 Apr;40(4):335-342. doi: 10.1007/s40266-023-01015-7. Epub 2023 Mar 2. |
| Aitken SJ, Lujic S, Randall DA, Noguchi N, Naganathan V, Blyth F. Response to Correspondence re 'Predicting outcomes in older patients undergoing vascular surgery using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score' by Guijuri et al. British Journal of Surgery 108 (2):e96; DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znaa135 |
| Bubb KJ, Harmer JA, Finemore M, Aitken SJ, Ali ZS, Billot L, Chow C, Golledge J, Mister R, Gray MP, Grieve SM, Hamburg N, Keech AC, Patel S, Puttaswamy V, Figtree GA. Protocol for the Stimulating β3-Adrenergic Receptors for Peripheral Artery Disease (STAR-PAD) trial: a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of mirabegron on functional performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. BMJ Open. 2021; 28;11(9):e049858. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049858. |
| Choy OS, Manewell S, Rajendran S, Aitken SJ. Variation in treatment and outcomes for patients with chronic limb‐threatening ischaemia in New South Wales, Australia. ANZ Journal of Surgery 2021; DOI 10.1111/anz.16886 |
| Farah S, Kwok R, Dean A, Sivakumaran Y, Khoo S, Joret M, Jansen S, Aitken SJ. The prescription of best medical therapy following infrainguinal bypass grafting in Australia and New Zealand: a multicentre Australasian audit. ANZ Journal of Surgery 91 (1-2) 2021; DOI: 10.1111/ans.16469 |
| Lahoud J, Fong V, Rajendran S, Tse V. Desmoid fibromatosis involving the ureter: A rare presentation with intraoperative challenges. Urol Case Rep. 2021 Oct 13;40:101883. doi: 10.1016/j.eucr.2021.101883. |
| Monaro, S., Pinkova, J., Ko, N., Stromsmoe, N., & Gullick, J. (2021). Chronic wound care delivery in wound clinics, community nursing and residential aged care settings: a qualitative analysis using Levine's Conservation Model. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(9-10), 1295-1311. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15674 |
| Monaro, S., West, S., & Gullick, J. (2021). Chronic limb‐threatening ischaemia and reframing the meaning of 'end'. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(5-6), 687-700. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15591 |
| Rajendran S, Brown KGM, Solomon MJ, Austin KKS, Lee PJ, Robinson D, Steffens D. Complete resection of the iliac vascular system during pelvic exenteration: an evolving surgical approach to lateral compartment excision. Br J Surg. 2021 Aug 19;108(8):885-887. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab070. |
| Schasser, S., Monaro, S., & West, S. (2021). Linking hospital and residential aged care: A Nurse-led Vascular-Geriatric Model of Care. Contemporary Nurse, 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2021.1991414 |
| STARSurg Collaborative and COVIDSurg Collaborative, Death following pulmonary complications of surgery before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, British Journal of Surgery, 108 (12) 2021: 1448-1464, DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab336 *Aitken SJ Concord Hospital Site Lead |
| Stavert B, Aitken SJ. Editorial- Reducing the number of unplanned returns to hospital after treatment for peripheral artery disease. Medical Journal of Australia, 2021; DOI 10.5694/mja2.51369 |
| Tan JWC, Chew DP, Brieger D, Eikelboom J, Montalescot G, Ako J, Kim B, Quek D, Aitken SJ, Chow CK, Chour S, Tse H, Kaul U, Firdaus I, Kubo T, Liew BW, Chong TT, Sin KYK, Yeh H, Buddhari W, Chunhamaneewat N, Hasan F, Fox KAA, Nguyen QN, Lo STH. 2020 Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Consensus Recommendations on Antithrombotic Management for High-risk Chronic Coronary Syndrome. European Cardiology Review 2021; 16:e26. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15420/ecr.2020.45 |
| Thillainadesan J, Hilmer S, Cullen J, Aitken SJ, Kerdic R, Monaro S, Naganathan V. GeriCO-V reduces delirium in older vascular inpatients. Australasian Journal on Ageing 2021; 40 (1):24 |
| Thillainadesan J, Hilmer S, Cullen J, Aitken SJ, Monaro S, Kerdic R, Naganathan V. Geriatric Co-management of Older Vascular Surgery Inpatients Reduces Hospital-Acquired Geriatric Syndromes. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2021;S1525-8610(21)00903-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.09.037 |
| Thillainadesan J, Hilmer S, Mudge A, Aitken SJ, Kearney L, Monaro S, Li SJ, Schasser S, Kerdic R, Tang R, Naganathan V. Understanding the role and value of process quality indicators in older vascular surgery inpatients. Journal of Surgical Research 2021; 267: 91-101 doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2021.05.003. |
| VERN Collaborative*. Outcomes of Vascular and Endovascular Interventions Performed During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: The Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN) Covid-19 Vascular Service (COVER) Tier 2 Study. Annals of Surgery Dec 2020; DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004722 *Aitken SJ Australian International Lead |
| Waird, A., & Monaro, S. (2021). Reducing the incidence and severity of pressure injuries in a high level care residential aged facility: A quality improvement project. Wound Practice & Research: Journal of the Australian Wound Management Association, 29(2), 77-85. DOI: 10.3316/informit.893413724048964 |
| VERN COVER COLLABORATIVE Aitken SJ. Global impact of the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic wave on vascular services. British Journal of Surgery 2020; 107: 1396-1400. |
| Aitken SJ. Peripheral artery disease in the lower limbs: The importance of secondary risk prevention for improved long-term prognosis. Australian journal of general practice 2020; 49: 239. |
| Aitken SJ, Lujic S, Randall DA, et al. Predicting outcomes in older patients undergoing vascular surgery using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score. BJS (British Journal of Surgery) 2020. |
| Aitken SJ, Randall DA, Noguchi N, et al. Multiple Peri-Operative Complications are Associated with Reduced Long Term Amputation Free Survival Following Revascularisation for Lower Limb Peripheral Artery Disease: A Population Based Linked Data Study. European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery 2020; 59: 437-445. |
| Aitken SJ, Thillainadesan J, Monaro S, et al. Collaborative models of care for older vascular surgery patients admitted to hospital. ANZ Journal of Surgery 2020; 90: 1232-1233. |
| Farah S, Kwok R, Dean A, Sivakumaran Y, Khoo S, Joret M, Jansen S, Aitken S, Australian and New Zealand Vascular Trials Network. The prescription of best medical therapy following infrainguinal bypass grafting in Australia and New Zealand: a multicentre Australasian audit. ANZ Journal of Surgery 2020. |
| Thillainadesan J, Yumol MF, Hilmer S, Aitken S, Naganathan V et al. Interventions to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults Admitted to a Surgical Service: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2020. |
| Cai T, Rajendran S, Saha P, Dubenec S. Paget-schroetter syndrome: a contemporary review of the controversies in management. Phlebology. 2020 Feb 6 doi: 10.1177/0268355519898920. |
| Gondoputro W, Rajendran S, Celermajer D, and Qasabian, R. An unusual case of upper limb ischemia in a marathon runner, Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques, 2020: 6, 1: 160-164. |
| Nguyen T, Rajendran S, Brown KGM, Saha P, Qasabian, R. Incisional hernia following open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a comtemporary review of risk factors and prevention. Vascular and Endovascular review. Vascular & Endovascular Review 2020; 3: e01. https://doi.org/10.15420/ver.2019.01.R1 |
| Aitken, S., Choy, O.S. & Monaro, S. A qualitative study exploring patient concerns and values in chronic limb-threatening ischemia." Journal of Surgical Research, 2019; 243: 289-300. |
| Aitken S, Randall D, Noguchi N, Blyth F, Naganathan V. Multiple Perioperative Complications are associated with reduced long-term amputation-free survival following revascularisation for lower limb peripheral artery disease. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Nov 2019 |
| Cai TY, Rajendran S, Robinson D. Functional magnetic resonance angiography in the diagnosis of iliac artery endofibrosis in an endurance runner. BMJ Case Reports CP 2019; 12: e232112. |
| Ribeiro L, Rajendran S, Stenson K, et al, Rare case of a proximal descending thoracic aorta mycotic aneurysm following intravesical BCG injections for the treatment of bladder cancer.BMJ Case Reports CP. 2019; 12: e231595. |
| Monaro, S., West, S., & Gullick, J. The body Chronic limb?threatening ischaemia: A phenomenological derived understanding. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2019; 29: 7-8: 14. |
| Rajendran S, Cai TY, Loa J. et al. Early outcomes using dedicated venous stents in the upper limb of patients with venous thoracic outlet syndrome: A single centre experience. CVIR Endovasc. 2019: 2: 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42155-019-0066-0 |