Biography Dr. Matthias Behrends is an anesthesiologist who joined UCSF in 2004. His clinical work involves mostly pain management after surgery with a focus on optimizing treatment strategies with regional anesthesia (nerve blocks, or injections that numb pain in a certain part of the body). He is currently the Medical Director of the UCSF Health Inpatient Pain Services and the Acting Director of the Regional Anesthesia team. In his research, he focuses on clinical trials on how to improve pain after surgery. He also investigates the effects of pain and pain medication on pupil movements using infrared pupillometry. Behrends earned his medical degree from the University of Göttingen. He trained in anesthesiology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He also spent three years as a postdoctoral scholar in the pathophysiology department at the University of Duisburg-Essen, investigating myocardial hibernation and ischemic preconditioning. Role Faculty Location UCSF at Mission Bay UCSF at Mount Zion UCSF at Parnassus Category Clinical Specialties Global Health Equity Pain Medicine Regional Anesthesia Education Residency, 2003 - Anesthesiology, University of Duisburg-EssenFellowship, 2000 - Pathophysiology, University of Duisburg-Essen1996 - , University of Göttingen Publications Erector Spinae Plane versus Pectoralis Nerve Block for Mastectomy in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort Study. Yap EN, Wei J, Darling C, Linehan E, Behrends M, Ng KP Journal of pain research . Sep 16, 2025 [Open educational resources for otorhinolaryngology : A pilot study on needs assessment and implementation]. Degen CV, Schwitzing F, Long S, Gickel L, Behrends M, Busch CJ, Steffens S, Mikuteit M HNO . Apr 16, 2024 The Development and Implementation of the Fast-Pace Assessment Framework and Tiered Analgesic Orders for Opioid Optimization. Bazinski M, Lau C, Clemons B, Purser L, Kangwankij A, Ngo L, Lang M, Besen B, Gross K, Borucki A, Behrends M, Miaskowski C, Schell-Chaple H Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses . Mar 23, 2024 Measurements of pupillary unrest using infrared pupillometry fail to detect changes in pain intensity in patients after surgery: a prospective observational study. Behrends M, Larson MD Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie . Mar 19, 2024 Electronic health record intervention to increase use of NSAIDs as analgesia for hospitalised patients: a cluster randomised controlled study. Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Robinson A, Lancaster E, Zhang L, Behrends M, Wick E, Auerbach A BMJ health & care informatics . Dec 30, 2023 Optimizing Uptake of Multimodal Pain Management After Surgery Using the Electronic Health Record. Bongiovanni T, Lancaster E, Behrends M, Zhang L, Wick E, Auerbach A, Pletcher MJ JAMA surgery . Oct 1, 2023 A behavioral intervention to promote use of multimodal pain medication for hospitalized patients: A randomized controlled trial. Bongiovanni T, Pletcher MJ, Lau C, Robinson A, Lancaster E, Zhang L, Behrends M, Wick E, Auerbach A Journal of hospital medicine . Jun 25, 2023 Consensus guidelines for the perioperative management of patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Azimaraghi O, Bilal M, Amornyotin S, Arain M, Behrends M, Berzin TM, Buxbaum JL, Choice C, Fassbender P, Sawhney MS, Sundar E, Wongtangman K, Leslie K, Eikermann M British journal of anaesthesia . Apr 14, 2023 Lidocaine Infusion for the Management of Postoperative Pain and Delirium (LIMPP): protocol for a randomised control trial. Buren MA, Theologis A, Zuraek A, Behrends M, Clark AJ, Leung JM BMJ open . Jun 6, 2022 Neuraxial and general anesthesia for outpatient total joint arthroplasty result in similarly low rates of major perioperative complications: a multicentered cohort study. Yap E, Wei J, Webb C, Ng K, Behrends M Regional anesthesia and pain medicine . Jan 6, 2022 Extraplexus versus intraplexus ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block for ambulatory arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A randomized controlled trial. Harbell MW, Kolodzie K, Behrends M, Ma CB, Kinjo S, Yap E, Braehler MR, Aleshi P PloS one . Feb 18, 2021 Editorial Commentary: Neuraxial Anesthesia Improves Pain After Hip Arthroscopy but Risks Ambulatory Discharge Delay. Yap EN, Behrends M Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association . Jan 1, 2021 Perioperative outcomes for patients on chronic buprenorphine undergoing spine surgery: A case series. Sharp AL, Gilbert S, Perez DN, Kolodzie K, Behrends M Journal of opioid management . Jan 1, 2021 Comparison of programmed intermittent epidural bolus and continuous epidural infusion for post-operative analgesia after major abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial. Su PP, Peniche A, Clelland E, Ladd M, Delgado A, Chen LL, Siegmueller C, Latronica M, Naidu R, Aleshi P, Behrends M Journal of clinical anesthesia . Apr 28, 2020 International multicentre review of perioperative management and outcome for catecholamine-producing tumours. Groeben H, Walz MK, Nottebaum BJ, Alesina PF, Greenwald A, Schumann R, Hollmann MW, Schwarte L, Behrends M, Rössel T, Groeben C, Schäfer M, Lowery A, Hirata N, Yamakage M, Miller JA, Cherry TJ, Nelson A, Solorzano CC, Gigliotti B, Wang TS, Wietasch JKG, Friederich P, Sheppard B, Graham PH, Weingarten TN, Sprung J The British journal of surgery . Jan 1, 2020 Acute Pain in Older Adults: Recommendations for Assessment and Treatment. Rajan J, Behrends M Anesthesiology clinics . Jul 1, 2019 Preoperative Fascia Iliaca Block Does Not Improve Analgesia after Arthroscopic Hip Surgery, but Causes Quadriceps Muscles Weakness: A Randomized, Double-blind Trial. Behrends M, Yap EN, Zhang AL, Kolodzie K, Kinjo S, Harbell MW, Aleshi P Anesthesiology . Sep 1, 2018 Suppression of pupillary unrest by general anesthesia and propofol sedation. Behrends M, Larson MD, Neice AE, Bokoch MP Journal of clinical monitoring and computing . May 21, 2018 In Response. Neice AE, Larson MD, Behrends M, Bokoch MP Anesthesia and analgesia . Aug 1, 2017 Prediction of Opioid Analgesic Efficacy by Measurement of Pupillary Unrest. Neice AE, Behrends M, Bokoch MP, Seligman KM, Conrad NM, Larson MD Anesthesia and analgesia . Mar 1, 2017 Combined preoperative femoral and sciatic nerve blockade improves analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Harbell MW, Cohen JM, Kolodzie K, Behrends M, Braehler MR, Kinjo S, Feeley BT, Aleshi P Journal of clinical anesthesia . Apr 29, 2016 Portable infrared pupillometry: a review. Larson MD, Behrends M Anesthesia and analgesia . Jun 1, 2015 Blood Transfusion and Postoperative Delirium. Elizabeth L. Whitlock, Matthias Behrends Current Anesthesiology Reports . Mar 1, 2015 Fentanyl, an agonist at the mu opioid receptor, depresses pupillary unrest. Bokoch MP, Behrends M, Neice A, Larson MD Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical . Feb 18, 2015 Association between intraoperative blood transfusions and early postoperative delirium in older adults. Behrends M, DePalma G, Sands L, Leung J Journal of the American Geriatrics Society . Mar 1, 2013 Infrared pupillometry to detect the light reflex during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a case series. Behrends M, Niemann CU, Larson MD Resuscitation . May 30, 2012 Induction of intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury by portal vein outflow occlusion in rats. Vincenti M, Behrends M, Dang K, Park YH, Hirose R, Blasi-Ibanez A, Liu T, Serkova NJ, Niemann CU Journal of gastroenterology . Jun 15, 2010 Short passive cooling protects rats during hepatectomy by inducing heat shock proteins and limiting the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Niemann CU, Xu F, Choi S, Behrends M, Park Y, Hirose R, Maher JJ The Journal of surgical research . Jan 1, 2010 Acute hyperglycemia worsens hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Behrends M, Martinez-Palli G, Niemann CU, Cohen S, Ramachandran R, Hirose R Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract . Dec 9, 2009 Transient hyperglycemia affects the extent of ischemia-reperfusion-induced renal injury in rats. Hirose R, Xu F, Dang K, Liu T, Behrends M, Brakeman PR, Wiener-Kronish J, Niemann CU Anesthesiology . Mar 1, 2008 Increased severity of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury with venous clamping compared to arterial clamping in a rat model. Park Y, Hirose R, Dang K, Xu F, Behrends M, Tan V, Roberts JP, Niemann CU Surgery . Dec 27, 2007 Myocardial stunning following no flow ischaemia is diminished by levosimendan or cariporide, without benefits of combined administration. Brendt P, Behrends M, Peters J Resuscitation . Aug 23, 2007 Remote renal injury following partial hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Behrends M, Hirose R, Park YH, Tan V, Dang K, Xu F, Park SH, Niemann CU Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract . Aug 14, 2007 Central venous pressure monitoring during living right donor hepatectomy. Niemann CU, Feiner J, Behrends M, Eilers H, Ascher NL, Roberts JP Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society . Feb 1, 2007 Ischemia-reperfusion injury is more severe in older versus young rat livers. Park Y, Hirose R, Coatney JL, Ferrell L, Behrends M, Roberts JP, Serkova NJ, Niemann CU The Journal of surgical research . Oct 24, 2006 Mild hypothermia reduces the inflammatory response and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Behrends M, Hirose R, Serkova NJ, Coatney JL, Bedolli M, Yardi J, Park YH, Niemann CU Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver . Aug 1, 2006 Mild hypothermia protects obese rats from fulminant hepatic necrosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Niemann CU, Choi S, Behrends M, Hirose R, Noh J, Coatney JL, Roberts JP, Serkova NJ, Maher JJ Surgery . Jul 28, 2006 Recombinant factor VIIa reduces transfusion requirements in liver transplant patients with high MELD scores. Niemann CU, Behrends M, Quan D, Eilers H, Gropper MA, Roberts JP, Hirose R Transfusion medicine (Oxford, England) . Apr 1, 2006 Glutamine does not protect against hepatic warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Noh J, Behrends M, Choi S, Bedolli MA, Yardi J, Hirose R, Niemann CU Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract . Feb 1, 2006 Ischemic preconditioning improves energy state and transplantation survival in obese Zucker rat livers. Niemann CU, Hirose R, Liu T, Behrends M, Brown JL, Kominsky DF, Roberts JP, Serkova N Anesthesia and analgesia . Dec 1, 2005 Acute lung injury after peppermint oil injection. Behrends M, Beiderlinden M, Peters J Anesthesia and analgesia . Oct 1, 2005 Glutamine does not ameliorate hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Matthias Behrends, Joonhwa Noh, Soojinna Choi, Ryutaro Hirose, Melanie Bedoli, John P. Roberts, Claus U. Niemann Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery . Apr 1, 2005 Normothermia during partial hepatic ischemia increases hepatic injury. Matthias Behrends, Ryutaro Hirose, Soojinna Choi, Claus U. Niemann Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery . Apr 1, 2005 Combination of sildenafil and bosentan for nitric oxide withdrawal. Behrends M, Beiderlinden M, Peters J European journal of anaesthesiology . Feb 1, 2005 The calcium sensitizer levosimendan attenuates endotoxin-evoked myocardial dysfunction in isolated guinea pig hearts. Behrends M, Peters J Intensive care medicine . Jul 17, 2003 Signal transduction of ischemic preconditioning. Schulz R, Cohen MV, Behrends M, Downey JM, Heusch G Cardiovascular research . Nov 1, 2001 In vitro validation of a metabolic monitor for gas exchange measurements in ventilated neonates. Behrends M, Kernbach M, Bräuer A, Braun U, Peters J, Weyland W Intensive care medicine . Jan 1, 2001 Minimal protection of the liver by ischemic preconditioning in pigs. Schulz R, Walz MK, Behrends M, Neumann T, Gerken G, Heusch G American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology . Jan 1, 2001 Perfusion-contraction mismatch with coronary microvascular obstruction: role of inflammation. Dörge H, Neumann T, Behrends M, Skyschally A, Schulz R, Kasper C, Erbel R, Heusch G American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology . Dec 1, 2000 No protection of the porcine kidney by ischaemic preconditioning. Behrends M, Walz MK, Kribben A, Neumann T, Helmchen U, Philipp T, Schulz R, Heusch G Experimental physiology . Nov 1, 2000 Enhanced reduction of myocardial infarct size by combined ACE inhibition and AT(1)-receptor antagonism. Weidenbach R, Schulz R, Gres P, Behrends M, Post H, Heusch G British journal of pharmacology . Sep 1, 2000 Inconsistent relation of MAPK activation to infarct size reduction by ischemic preconditioning in pigs. Behrends M, Schulz R, Post H, Alexandrov A, Belosjorow S, Michel MC, Heusch G American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology . Sep 1, 2000 Intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation evoke different effects on caval vein pressure gradients in humans: evidence for the starling resistor concept of abdominal venous return. Giebler RM, Behrends M, Steffens T, Walz MK, Peitgen K, Peters J Anesthesiology . Jun 1, 2000 No involvement of endogenous nitric oxide in classical ischemic preconditioning in swine. Post H, Schulz R, Behrends M, Gres P, Umschlag C, Heusch G Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology . May 1, 2000 Attenuation of myocardial stunning by the AT1 receptor antagonist candesartan. Dörge H, Behrends M, Schulz R, Jalowy A, Heusch G Basic research in cardiology . Jun 1, 1999 Effects of verapamil and mibefradil on regional blood flow and function in normal and ischemic myocardium. Behrends M, Schulz R, Heusch G Cardiovascular drugs and therapy . May 1, 1999 Infarct size reduction by AT1-receptor blockade through a signal cascade of AT2-receptor activation, bradykinin and prostaglandins in pigs. Jalowy A, Schulz R, Dörge H, Behrends M, Heusch G Journal of the American College of Cardiology . Nov 15, 1998 Caval pressure gradients are induced with intraperitoneal but not with retroperitoneal CO2 insufflation during laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic surgical procedures in humans. R. Giebler, M. Behrends, M. Walz, K. Peitgen, J. Peters Anesthesiology . Sep 1, 1998
