About

Amra Hadzic, MD, was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She graduated from the University of Sarajevo medical school and started residency in internal medicine at the Institute for Nephrology and Dialysis. After moving to the U.S., she completed a family medicine residency program at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Dr. Hadzic worked briefly with the Department of Health, and, since 2004, has been a faculty member and practitioner at UF Health Family Medicine – Lem Turner. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Dr. Hadzic teaches courses such as Family Medicine and Ambulatory Care Clerkship and holds board certification in Family Medicine from the American Board of Family Medicine.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Political Science
• Anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Endocrinology
• Radiology
• Nuclear medicine
• Law
• Internal medicine
• Medical physics
• Surgery
• Anesthesia

Selected publications

• Standardizing nomenclature in regional anesthesia: an ASRA-ESRA Delphi consensus study of abdominal wall, paraspinal, and chest wall blocks

  Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine · 2021 · 261 citations

  • Computer Science
  • Medicine
  • Artificial Intelligence

  BACKGROUND: There is heterogeneity in the names and anatomical descriptions of regional anesthetic techniques. This may have adverse consequences on education, research, and implementation into clinical practice. We aimed to produce standardized nomenclature for abdominal wall, paraspinal, and chest wall regional anesthetic techniques. METHODS: We conducted an international consensus study involving experts using a three-round Delphi method to produce a list of names and corresponding descriptions of anatomical targets. After long-list formulation by a Steering Committee, the first and second rounds involved anonymous electronic voting and commenting, with the third round involving a virtual round table discussion aiming to achieve consensus on items that had yet to achieve it. Novel names were presented where required for anatomical clarity and harmonization. Strong consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement and weak consensus as 50% to 74% agreement. RESULTS: Sixty expert Collaborators participated in this study. After three rounds and clarification, harmonization, and introduction of novel nomenclature, strong consensus was achieved for the names of 16 block names and weak consensus for four names. For anatomical descriptions, strong consensus was achieved for 19 blocks and weak consensus was achieved for one approach. Several areas requiring further research were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Harmonization and standardization of nomenclature may improve education, research, and ultimately patient care. We present the first international consensus on nomenclature and anatomical descriptions of blocks of the abdominal wall, chest wall, and paraspinal blocks. We recommend using the consensus results in academic and clinical practice.

  DOI

• Quadratus lumborum block: an imaging study of three approaches

  Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine · 2020 · 72 citations

  • Medicine
  • Anatomy
  • Nuclear medicine

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Different injection techniques for the quadratus lumborum (QL) block have been described. Data in human cadavers suggest that the transverse oblique paramedian (TOP) QL3 may reach the thoracic paravertebral space more consistently than the QL1 and QL2. However, the distribution of injectate in cadavers may differ from that in patients. Hence, we assessed the distribution of the injectate after the QL1, QL2, and TOP QL3 techniques in patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients scheduled for abdominal surgery received QL blocks postoperatively; 26 patients received bilateral and 8 patients received unilateral blocks. Block injections were randomly allocated to QL1, QL2, or TOP QL3 techniques (20 blocks per each technique). The injections consisted of 18 mL of ropivacaine 0.375% with 2 mL of radiopaque contrast, injected lateral or posterior to the QL muscle for the QL1 and QL2 techniques, respectively. For the TOP QL3, the injection was into the plane between the QL and psoas muscles, proximal to the L2 transverse process. Two reviewers, blinded to the allocation, reviewed three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) images to assess the distribution of injectate. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: occasional spread to the lumbar and thoracic paravertebral areas. CONCLUSIONS: The spread of injectate after QL1, QL2, and QL3 blocks, resulted in different distribution patterns, primarily in the area of injection. The TOP QL3 did not result in consistent interfascial spread toward the thoracic paravertebral space.

  DOI

• Neurotoxicity of bupivacaine and liposome bupivacaine after sciatic nerve block in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

  BMC Veterinary Research · 2020 · 23 citations

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Pharmacology

  BACKGROUND: Long-acting local anaesthetics (e.g. bupivacaine hydrochloride) or sustained-release formulations of bupivacaine (e.g. liposomal bupivacaine) may be neurotoxic when applied in the setting of diabetic neuropathy. The aim of the study was to assess neurotoxicity of bupivacaine and liposome bupivacaine in streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetic mice after sciatic nerve block. We used the reduction in fibre density and decreased myelination assessed by G-ratio (defined as axon diameter divided by large fibre diameter) as indicators of local anaesthetic neurotoxicity. RESULTS: Diabetic mice had higher plasma levels of glucose (P < 0.001) and significant differences in the tail flick and plantar test thermal latencies compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). In both diabetic and nondiabetic mice, sciatic nerve block with 0.25% bupivacaine HCl resulted in a significantly greater G-ratio and an axon diameter compared to nerves treated with 1.3% liposome bupivacaine or saline (0.9% sodium chloride) (P < 0.01). Moreover, sciatic nerve block with 0.25% bupivacaine HCl resulted in lower fibre density and higher large fibre and axon diameters compared to the control (untreated) sciatic nerves in both STZ-induced diabetic (P < 0.05) and nondiabetic mice (P < 0.01). No evidence of acute or chronic inflammation was observed in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our exploratory study the sciatic nerve block with bupivacaine HCl (7 mg/kg), but not liposome bupivacaine (35 mg/kg) or saline, resulted in histomorphometric indices of neurotoxicity. Histologic findings were similar in diabetic and healthy control mice.

  DOI

Frequent coauthors

• James R. Hebl

  153 shared

• Eugene R. Viscusi

  150 shared

• Jerry D. Vloka

  St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center

  134 shared

• Richard Brull

  Women's College Hospital

  131 shared

• Brian M. Ilfeld

  University of California, San Diego

  109 shared

• Colin J. L. McCartney

  University of Toronto

  101 shared

• Bryan Williams

  The Francis Crick Institute

  100 shared

• Giovanni Liguori

  University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"

  100 shared

Education

• M.D.

  University of Sarajevo

• M.D.

  University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville

Similar researchers at University of Florida

• Steven T DeKoskyh-162
• Matthew Farrerh-133
• George Christouh-133
• Mark A Atkinsonh-129
• Christiaan Leeuwenburghh-125