Takayuki Yamanaka
Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Nara Medical University
Papers
3
Total Citations
25
H-Index
3
About
Takayuki Yamanaka is a clinical anesthesiologist whose work is reshaping perioperative pain management, particularly in robot-assisted urologic surgery. His research centers on the nociception level (NOL) index—a real-time measure of pain response—and its integration into opioid-sparing protocols. In his landmark single-blinded randomized controlled trial (2024, 12 citations), Yamanaka demonstrated that NOL-directed analgesic management significantly reduces opioid usage during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, offering a safer, more personalized approach to anesthesia. He has also advanced regional anesthesia techniques; his prospective cohort study on the anterior quadratus lumborum block (2023, 8 citations) was the first to quantify the resulting quadriceps weakness, providing critical safety data for postoperative mobility. Yamanaka’s protocol paper for the NOLDOR trial (2022, 5 citations) laid the groundwork for this paradigm shift, addressing concerns that NOL guidance might inadvertently lead to under- or over-medication. By bridging nociception monitoring with practical clinical outcomes, Yamanaka is helping define a new standard in precision analgesia—one that balances effective pain control with reduced opioid exposure and preserved muscle function.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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