Bruce Biccard
Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetic Science
Bruce Biccard's research interests include perioperative medicine, perioperative outcomes and global surgery. He is a proponent of international collaborative research. He is Director of the African Perioperative Research Group (APORG) which has delivered the African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS), the ASOS-2 Trial, the African Covid-19 Critical Care Outcomes Study (ACCCOS), the African Surgical Outcomes Study in Paediatric patients (ASOS-Paeds), and the African Critical Illness Outcomes Study (ACIOS). He is the co-Lead for the NIHR Global Health Group on Perioperative and Critical Care. He is a NRF A-Rated Scientist. Bruce has published a book titled ‘Safer surgery for Africa: Challenges and Solutions’.
Key publications
The African Critical Illness Outcomes Study (ACIOS): a point prevalence study of critical illness in 22 nations in Africa
Journal article
Baker T. et al, (2025), The Lancet, 405, 715 - 724
Outcomes after surgery for children in Africa (ASOS-Paeds): a 14-day prospective observational cohort study
Journal article
Torborg A. et al, (2024), The Lancet, 403, 1482 - 1492
Enhanced postoperative surveillance versus standard of care to reduce mortality among adult surgical patients in Africa (ASOS-2): a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Journal article
Biccard BM. et al, (2021), The Lancet Global Health, 9, e1391 - e1401
Maternal and neonatal outcomes after caesarean delivery in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study
Journal article
Bishop D. et al, (2019), The Lancet Global Health, 7, e513 - e522
Perioperative patient outcomes in the African Surgical Outcomes Study: a 7-day prospective observational cohort study
Journal article
Biccard BM. et al, (2018), The Lancet, 391, 1589 - 1598
Recent publications
South African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study-2 (SAPSOS-2): a prospective multi-centre pre–post study evaluating haemoglobin response to oral iron for iron-deficiency anaemia in children undergoing elective noncardiac surgery
Journal article
Meyer HM. et al, (2026), British Journal of Anaesthesia, 137, 773 - 781
One in seven has severe pain: a point-prevalence study of hospitalised patients across Africa
Journal article
Bedwell GJ. et al, (2026), Pain
Assessing the Economic Impact of Implementing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Practices in Ethiopia: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Journal article
Kifle F. et al, (2026), Anesthesia & Analgesia
Patient Beliefs and Experiences of Adhering to Medical Therapies for Cardiovascular Comorbidities, Before Noncardiac Elective Surgery in South Africa: A Mixed-Methods Study
Journal article
Awoloto O. et al, (2026), Anesthesia & Analgesia
Community experiences of surgery in peri-urban Cape Town
Journal article
Isiagi M. et al, (2026), South African Medical Journal, e3631 - e3631