Dr Karin Strauss – Specialist Anaesthesiologist – Brackenfell

Dr Karin Strauss – Specialist Anaesthesiologist – Brackenfell

Dr Karin Strauss is a Specialist Anaesthesiologist with Mediclinic Cape Gate Hospital and a senior partner at Cape Gate Anaesthesia in Brackenfell . She completed her MBChB at the University of Stellenbosch in 2008, then returned to earn an MMed in Anaesthesiology and her Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists (FCA SA) in 2016. As a result, she blends rigorous academic training with over a decade of specialist practice.

Dr Strauss holds active registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and membership in the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists, ensuring her practice reflects the latest clinical guidelines. She also contributes to ongoing professional development by presenting at national conferences. Outside of theatre, she leads community outreach initiatives, offering sedation and pain-management expertise to underserved patients. Meanwhile, she maintains resilience and sharp focus through trail running and bird watching, activities that fuel her empathy and calm under pressure.

Services

Dr Strauss delivers a full spectrum of perioperative and pain-management services, each tailored to patient safety and comfort:

• Pre-operative Assessment – thorough medical history review, physical examination, and risk stratification to optimise each patient’s condition before surgery.

• General Anaesthesia – modern inhalational and intravenous protocols adjusted for adults and paediatric patients to ensure rapid induction and smooth emergence.

• Regional Anaesthesia – ultrasound-guided spinal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks that provide targeted pain relief while preserving motor function.

• Sedation Services – conscious and deep sedation schemes for day procedures, endoscopy, and interventional radiology, using intravenous drips and oxygen supplementation Cape Gate Anaesthesia.

• Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) – target-controlled infusions of propofol and remifentanil that minimise postoperative nausea and promote faster recovery.

• Obstetric Anaesthesia – epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural techniques for labour analgesia and Caesarean sections, ensuring maternal and fetal safety.

• Paediatric Anaesthesia – age-appropriate drug dosing, specialised monitoring, and child-friendly protocols that reduce anxiety and ensure smooth perioperative care.

• Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia – advanced haemodynamic monitoring and cardiopulmonary bypass support during open-heart and thoracic surgeries.

• Neuro-anaesthesia – intracranial pressure management and cerebral perfusion strategies for neurosurgical procedures.

• Airway Management – fibreoptic intubation, video laryngoscopy, and rapid-sequence induction techniques for complex airway scenarios.

• Perioperative Trans-oesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) – real-time intraoperative cardiac imaging to guide fluid and inotropic therapy in high-risk patients.

• Pain Management & Palliative Care – multimodal analgesia, including patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and regional infusion catheters, to optimise comfort in acute and chronic settings.

Additional Information

Mediclinic Cape Gate offers dedicated operating theatres equipped with state-of-the-art anaesthesia machines, multimodal monitoring systems, and a day-case sedation unit. Furthermore, the hospital follows Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols to shorten hospital stays and accelerate rehabilitation.

A secure digital patient portal enables online appointment booking, telehealth consultations, and instant access to pre-admission instructions and postoperative care plans. Consequently, patients benefit from streamlined communication, reduced anxiety, and continuity of care.

Dr Strauss collaborates closely with a multidisciplinary team—including surgeons, critical-care specialists, physiotherapists, and dietitians—to co-create personalised anaesthesia plans. In addition, multilingual staff provide explanations in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, ensuring clear dialogue with diverse patients.

Dr Strauss’s patient-first philosophy emphasises informed decision-making, empathetic support, and active family involvement at every stage. Therefore, schedule your anaesthesia consultation today to experience expert, compassionate care tailored to your safety and comfort.